Research Interests Nathan Egan Rank I study local adaptation and host plant specialization in insects. My research involves field work, biochemical studies, and molecular systematic approaches. My study organisms are leaf beetles (Chrysomela & Phratora spp.) their host plants, and their natural enemies. In my research, I address the following topics: Local adaptation in montane leaf beetles Natural enemies and herbivore host use Evolution of host plant preference At present, I am working most intensively on the first topic. I am looking for a graduate student to participate in this research for a Masters' degree, starting in the summer of 1999. Sources of support This research has been supported by grants from US National Science Foundation to Nathan Rank and Elizabeth Dahlhoff (1998) White Mountain Research Station to Nathan Rank and several students (1984-1998) Swiss Association of Naturalists to Nathan Rank and Alfred Koepf (1994) For more information, please click on the links below Local adaptation in montane leaf beetles (4 pages, or see research summary) Chrysomela adult on a willow Big Pine Creek in eastern California Natural enemies & host plant use (5 pages, or see research summary) Wasp feeding on a beetle larva Parasyrphus fly larva eating beetle larvae Evolution of host plant preference (3 pages, or see research summary) Head of an adult beetle Variation in host plant use in Phratora Nathan Rank's Homepage |Department of Biology | Sonoma State University January 23, 1999 NER