Tristan McKnight

Education:

Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 2017

B.S., Biology, Brigham Young University, 2011

Research:

My research is interested in diversification and coexistence in the natural world. I primarily study the ecology and evolutionary history of a diverse group of predatory insects called robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae). Robber flies can be found in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem eating other arthropods, and you can frequently find several asilid species living in the same habitat. Knowing who the species are and how they have evolved are crucial first steps toward understanding their place in the ecosystem. Accordingly, my work begins with taxonomy and systematics: using statistical analyses of molecular genetics and morphology to identify species, describe them so people can identify these taxa, and estimate phylogenies to reveal how their lineage has evolved over time. I work with museum specimens from natural history collections, information shared by citizen scientists online, and conduct my own regular fieldwork to find robber flies in the wild, get fresh specimens, and gather more data on their behavior. Then I can pursue ecological projects such as mark-recapture studies of local populations to study their daily and seasonal patterns of activity and movement, collecting prey of different robber flies, and rearing larvae or pupae. I also enjoy collaborating with other naturalists to learn about other organisms.

Courses Taught:

ENTO 160D1: Busy Bees and Fancy Fleas: How Insects Shaped Human History

ENTO 170C2: Secrets of Success: How Insects Conquered Earth