Experimental range expansions in Tribolium
Testing range-limit theory with replicate evolving flour-beetle landscapes
We use replicate landscapes of flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) in the lab to test how environmental gradient shape, dispersal magnitude, and within-population genetic variation jointly govern the speed and predictability of range expansion. Whole-genome haplotagging across hundreds of beetles lets us watch the genomics of expansion in real time — including how standing variation, drift, and gene surfing shape the leading edge.
With Topher Weiss-Lehman (Wyoming). Supported by NSF DEB #2230806.
