Change can have consequences for species' ecology, evolution, and conservation status. From population declines, to range shifts or contractions, to extinctions (which can accumulate into biodiversity loss), the Auteri Lab leverages studies of how species respond to changes to address questions in foundational science and conservation.

Examples of how species might respond to environmental changes.

Bats hibernating in a hydroelectric dam, as opposed to a natural structure like a cave.

Humans are one of the biggest drivers of contemporary environmental change. For example, through facilitating the spread of introduced species and contributing to climate change. Many species of bats in North America are declining due to white-nose syndrome--a disease caused by an introduced fungal pathogen that thrives in caves. Whether and how bats are evolving in response to white-nose syndrome is a focal research area of the Auteri Lab, although we also study responses of species to other anthropogenic changes.

Species also face cyclic environmental changes, like seasonal changes and glaciation cycles. These "background" environmental changes may influence how species cope with additional, human-caused environmental changes, for example by making species preadapted to deal with rapidly changing environments, or, alternatively, through contributing to species' preexisting susceptibility to additional environmental perturbations (for example, if past events have resulted in lower genetic diversity).

Salamanders are pushed back by glaciers. When the glaciers retreat, the salamanders recolonize the area, but with lower genetic diversity.