Charlie Willis

University of Minnesota

College of Biological Sciences

LAB TECHNICIAN

Graduate in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

My research with Dr. Weinig has focused on the evolutionary phenomena of multi-level selection.* Currently, multi-level selection is a much debated subject in evolutionary science, particularly because of its incorporation of the controversial concept of group selection (see fig. 1 & 2 for definitions and diagrams, respectively). However, the debate over multi-level selection has been largely theoretical, and the potential opportunities for empirical study of the subject are great (Goodnight and Stevens 1997). Wade (1976) pioneered the experimental study of multi-level selection with his work on Tribolium and population size. Since then researchers such as Craig, Goodnight, Stevens, and Wilson have followed Wade in empirically studying group selection and later multi-level selection. My and Dr. Weinig’s research has followed in the tradition of the above researchers in our attempt to quantify evidence of multi-level selection. Specifically, we have employed the methods of path analysis and contextual analysis to demonstrate trends of multi-levels selection occurring in feral populations of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Although my initial interests as an undergraduate were in biodiversity and ecology, the work and study I have done with Dr. Weinig has expanded my interest to include multi-level evolutionary theory and community ecology and evolution. My primary interests (pro tempore) are on the study of evolutionary influences on community structure and distribution. Consider the three frameworks suggested by Reiner (1986) necessary to unifying the study of ecosystem ecology – energetics, matter, and population interactions and ecosystem “connectedness.” Graig and Pechmann (1988) add to Reiner that evolutionary theory is essential when considering the interactions of these frameworks, for evolutionary theory adds the dimension of genetic change over time. Or more simply, as Hutchinson (1960) famously put it, "ecology is the theater for the evolutionary play.”

*My research was funded through a grant from the University of Minnesota's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program