Andrew Merwin

Dr. Andrew Merwin studies insect ecology and insect conservation. He tries to understand the biological and climatic factors that influence the distribution of insects and their traits. For instance, he and a student are currently working on research to track the evolution of spotted lanternflies’ traits as they spread west. He is also working with Dr. Carrie Davis-Todd and colleagues in Nebraska to use bioclimatic variables to predict favorable and unfavorable conditions for the Salt Creek tiger beetle, the nation’s most endangered beetle.

His lab uses spatial and temporal statistical modelling techniques, cameras for imaging specimens, flight mills for quantifying flight, shotgun microphones for recording insect songs, sweep nets, pitfall traps, insect pinning equipment, and just about anything that will help get the job done.

Students with interests in animals and plant-animal interactions are encouraged to send him an email or stop by his office.

Courses

• Conservation Biology
• Invertebrate Natural History
• Zoology
• Foundations of Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Publications

Blum A.*, H. Dodson*, K. Sperber*, A. Sveda*, A.C. Merwin (In Press). "Herbivore preference mediates indirect effects among hosts in a model system." Ecological Entomology.

M.L. Robinson…A.C. Merwin + 185 authors, The Herbivory Variability Network (2023). "Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory." Science 382: 679-683.

Jue, D., A.C. Merwin, S. Jue, D. McElveen, B. Inouye (2022). "Effects of frequency and season of fire on a metapopulation of an imperiled butterfly in a longleaf pine forest." Conservation Science and Policy.

Merwin, A.C., J. Hilliard, A. Larson*, A. Lasken, T. Johnson* (2022). "Oh, the places you will grow: latitudinal clines in butterfly size suggest a phylogenetic signal." Ecology and Evolution.

Merwin, A.C., B. Inouye, N. Underwood (2020). "Natal-habitat experience mediates the relationship between insect and hostplant densities." Oecologia 193(2):261-271.

Humphrey, E.A., A.C. Merwin, M. Tekkumru-Kisa (2020). "Training Tips: Using graduate student discussion groups to advance cognitively demanding tasks in college science teaching." American Biology Teacher 82(1) 53-57.

Merwin A.C. (2020). "Make your backyard bird and butterfly friendly." Cleveland.com, March 15.

Merwin A.C., Inouye BD, Underwood N (2020). "Natal habitat experience mediates the relationship between insect and hostplant densities." Oecologia 193:261–271.

Merwin, A.C. (2019). "Flight capacity increases then declines from the core to the margins of an invasive species’ range." Biology Letters.

Basili, A. M.*, and A. C. Merwin (2019). "Parasitism declines with distance from the site of introduction for the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.), and depends on host density at different spatial scales." Biological Invasions 21:2629–2637.

Merwin, A. C., and A. R. Yilmaz* (2018). "Diel flight pattern and size-dependent flight speed of kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius)." Journal of Applied Entomology 142:305–310.

Merwin, A. C., N. Underwood, and B. D. Inouye (2017). "Increased consumer density reduces the strength of neighborhood effects in a model system." Ecology 98:2904–2913.

Kim, T. N., B. J. Spiesman, A. L. Buchanan, A. S. Hakes, S. L. Halpern, B. D. Inouye, A. L. Kilanowski, N. Kortessis, D. W. McNutt, A. C. Merwin, and N. Underwood (2015). "Selective manipulation of a non-dominant plant and its herbivores affects an old-field plant community." Plant Ecology 216:1029–1045.

Merwin, A. C., and M. P. Parrella (2014). "Preference induction and the benefits of floral resources for a facultative florivore." Ecological Entomology 39:405–411.

*Indicates student co-author