Department of Zoology
Distinguished Professor; Director, Ecology Research Center
Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University, 1982
evolutionary ecology
| Office: 538 MOS 148 PSN | Phone: 785-3238 529-3176 | Email: rypstral@MUOhio.edu Home Page: Click Here |
Office Hours: Monday . . . . HAM Tuesday . . . . OXF Wednesday . . HAM Thursday. . . . OXF Friday. . . . . . HAM |
Biographical Information:
Ann Rypstra is interested in the behavior, ecology and diversity of arthropod predators. Her research group employs a broad array of approaches aimed to understand how the ecology and behavior of organisms affect species coexistence patterns. Spiders are the focus of most of Rypstra’s studies because they are a common, but very diverse, group of generalist predators and are relatively easy to manipulate both in the laboratory and the field.
Most of the research conducted by Rypstra’s team falls into one of three general categories, however, creativity is encouraged and some students have initiated their own independent investigations. One current research area is an attempt to quantify all aspects of the behavior and ecology of several species of wolf spider that overlap in habitat use. A specific focus of this endeavor is an investigation of how the interactions between different species influence reproductive behaviors such as courtship and sexual selection. A second research area delves into the role of spiders and other arthropod predators in the food web. Early work revealed that generalist predators, such as spiders, cause higher plant productivity without influencing herbivore populations. Rypstra and her students are interested in the specific mechanisms by which the predators exert their influence in the food web. The third area involves an exploration of the biodiversity of spiders across the region with a focus on species coexistence patterns. Ultimately Rypstra and her students would like to understand the manner in which such factors as productivity, disturbance, heterogeneity and habitat fragmentation influence local diversity.
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