People

Sara M. Lewis, Principal Investigator

The Lewis laboratory has investigated key questions in evolutionary ecology with the aim of understanding how selection acts in natural populations. Our previous work combined field and laboratory studies to address these questions in fireflies, butterflies, flour beetles, fish, and marine invertebrates. This work explored:

• Mechanisms of sexual selection
• Firefly courtship and mating behavior
• Nuptial gift evolution
• Hermit crab vacancy chains
• Herbivory on coral reefs

Lewis serves as chair of Fireflyers International, and as co-chair of the IUCN Firefly Specialist Group. Her current work focuses on global firefly conservation, working with international scientists to determine key threats to fireflies in different regions, to identify those species most at-risk, and developing plans to protect endangered species and their habitats.