Current Members

Rebecca (Brown) Sam. Becky is pursuing a PhD in systematic entomology. Her research is focused on the phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of Edwardsininae, a subfamily of Blephariceridae (Diptera), which contains two genera, Edwardsina and Paulianina. While Blephariceridae are found on all continents excluding Antarctica, and on several continental islands (ex: Madagascar, New Zealand, Sri Lanka), Edwardsininae is confined to South America, Madagascar, Australia, and Tasmania, exhibiting a Gondwanan distribution. Becky is also revising the genus Paulianina, which is endemic to Madagascar. Recent collecting has greatly increased the number of known species. While Paulianina is thought to be monophyletic, there are still questions regarding the monophyly of the two subgenera within Paulianina, Paulianina (sensu stricto), and Eupaulianina that need to be more thoroughly examined.

Becky also is presenter for the Insect Zoo, an educational outreach program facilitated through the Department of Entomology, and is active in student governance, having served in both the Entomology Graduate Student Organization and in the Graduate and Professional Student Senate.

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Jessica (Davis) Petersen. Jess is interested in combining an understanding of macroecological patterns with macroevolutionary processes. Her Ph.D. project combines aspects of taxonomy, evolution and ecology to form a rather complete picture of one group of flies. The first and most basic part includes a systematic revision of a little known, semi-aquatic group of crane flies (Diptera, Tipuloidea). This revision includes an analysis of the evolutionary relationships among species of Euphylidorea Alexander by creating a phylogeny using molecular and morphological characters. This phylogeny provides a foundation to investigate macroecological patterns in an evolutionary framework. Jess take a top-down approach by first looking at broad scale climate envelopes which may be limiting the ecological distribution of species of Euphylidorea. From there she is delving into smaller spatial scale questions about modes of speciation, interactions such as competition, historical biogeography, dispersal ability, extinctions, invasion potential, and responses to future climate change. Jess also is leading the Adopt-a-Trap: Iowa Insect Survey Project, which uses a series of Malaise traps and the assistance of many students, educators and volunteers to gather baseline data on the state's insect fauna.

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Matthew Petersen. Matt is interested in how the current ecological adaptations and biogeographic distributions of crane flies (Tipuloidea; Diptera) have been affected by their evolutionary history. Crane flies, a diverse clade of flie containing over 15,000 species, have radiated to occupy a broad spectrum of larval habitats. While much work has been done to understand species richness, considerably less attention as been given to the taxonomy and classification of the group. This lack of attention has led to many problematic taxonomic divisions and maintenance of numerous paraphyletic genera. Matt's research seeks to answer the question of why there is such diversity within this clade of flies while addressing this problematic taxonomic structure. Through a cladistic analysis utilizing both morphological and molecular characters, his work is providing a framework by which the taxonomy of the group will be based. This revised taxonomic framework allows for insight into the origin of complex ecological adaptations and will help to elucidate whether certain adaptations have helped to create the elevated observed species richness. Matt also is conducting a systematic revision of the genus Lipsothrix.

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Matthew Wihlm. Matt joined the lab in August 2006 and is working to earn his Masters Degree. He is currently studying Axymyiidae, a presumedly rare group of semi-aquatic flies. His research is focussed on the species Axymyia furcata is most often found in small streams, where the larvae tunnel through decaying hardwood logs. Through recent surveys, we have found populations of Axymyiidae throughout eastern North America, including Iowa and 7 other states where the family had not been previously recorded. Matt plans to analyze morphological and molecular characters of these flies in order to decipher whether or not more than a single species of Axymyia is present in eastern North America. Matt also plans to investigate larval densities within the logs that harbor axymyiids, the number of larval instars and other life history characteristics, and the range of these flies in Iowa and elsewhere. Besides working in the Systematics lab, Matt also works as the Rearing Room Supervisor in the ISU Insect Zoo.