Evolution of cooperation in groups
Although the evolutionary forces that can support the spread of cooperative or mutually beneficial social interactions are fairly well understood, a systematic framework for how to explore proximate mechanisms for such cooperation that is amenable to evolutionary analysis is lacking. In collaboration with Erol Akçay, I have developed a system of studying behavioral objectives that can clarify the ecological requirements for cooperative interactions.
Evolution in variable environments and bet-hedging
I have explored the role of trade offs and fitness asymmetries can have on the conditions for the evolution of bet-hedging. This is of particular relevance to microbial evolution as many microbiologists see random variations in gene expression, a kind of bet-hedging, as a common way for microbes to adapt to variable environments.
Evolution of genomic imprinting
Using tools from population genetics and evolutionary theory, I have explored factors that could explain the evolution of imprinting including genetic interactions such as dominance and a host of demographic factors including sex-specific selection, sex-specific migration, and generation overlap. I have also studied the dynamic effects of imprinting, which include the possibility of complex dynamics and chaos.
