Dr. Olivia Cope

Temporal Variability in Plant and Plant-Herbivore Ecology  

Project Description:

Plants, and the insect herbivores who eat them, make up the vast majority of life on Earth. This project aims to understand why insects choose to eat particular plants – is it the plants’ genetic background? Their age or size? The tenderness of their leaves? We work outside in field plots in the Back 40 and around Spokane to collect insects, measure plants, and collect tissue samples. We then process these samples in the lab, including identifying insects under the microscope. No prior research experience is needed, but students should have a genuine interest in ecology and a willingness to learn new things.

Accepting 4 Students