Ecological Interactions and the Dynamics of a Semi-aquatic Insect

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The proposed research will consider several situations in which natural and sexual selection function together and in opposition to one another, and how an organism can behave in a way that maximizes its fitness. The research combines field surveys, field experiments, and laboratory experiments. These experiments will examine the interacting effects of predation risk, density, and sex ratio in Gerris remigis, a species of aquatic insect. The research will produce new insights into how natural selection and sexual selection interact to shape evolution. Additional knowledge of how stream ecology may be affected by the destruction of surrounding land should also result from this work.