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Rick Lankau
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Email: ralankau@illinois.edu Title: Affiliate
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| Research |
My research interests center on the role of genetic variation and evolution within populations in controlling species interactions and plant community structure. In my previous work, I explored how genetic variation in the chemical traits of black mustard (Brassica nigra) helped promote coexistence between competitor species. At the same time, a diversity of competing species helped maintain genetic variation in the chemical trait. At the Survey I am studying garlic mustard invasion into forest understories throughout the Midwest and Northeast. Specifically, I am investigating how the plant has evolved in its new range since its introduction, especially in allelopathic traits, and the consequences of this evolution for management and the restoration of native plant communities. |
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| Selected publications |
Lankau, R.A. and D.J. Kliebenstein. Competition, herbivory and genetics interact to determine the accumulation and fitness consequences of a defense metabolite. Journal of Ecology in press Lankau, R.A. 2008. A chemical trait creates a genetic trade-off between intra- and interspecific competitive ability. Ecology 89: 1181-1187. Lankau, R.A. and S.Y. Strauss. 2008. Community complexity drives patterns of natural selection on a chemical defense of Brassica nigra. The American Naturalist 171: 150-161. Lankau, R.A. and S.Y. Strauss. 2007. Mutual feedbacks maintain both genetic and species diversity in a plant community. Science 317: 1561-1563. Lankau, R. A. 2007. Specialist and generalist herbivores exert opposing selection on a chemical defense. New Phytologist 175: 176-184. |
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| Professional society involvement and activities |
Ecological Society of America | |||
| Education | Ph.D. in Ecology, University of California, Davis B.A. in Biology/Biochemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX | |||
Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois
INRS State Scientific Surveys
