Knutie Lab in the Galapagos
Research in the Knutie lab spans both fundamental and applied ideas in disease biology. We explore how and when animals (human and non-human) defend themselves against parasites, especially in response to environmental change. Current research includes the following topics:
- Effect of an introduced parasitic nest fly Philornis downsi on Galapagos birds -- How birds defend themselves against P. downsi (e.g. can birds evolve resistance to the parasite?) -- Effect of urbanization on host-parasite-microbe interactions of Darwin's finches -- Effect of urban trash on the nesting biology of finches.
- Role of host-associated microbiota in disease biology with a model frog system -- Whether early-life microbes of hosts mediate the effect of environmental factors (e.g. pollution, climate change, resource availability) on disease risk -- How the results of these studies could improve human health.
- Long-term study on how environmental factors affect host-parasite-microbe interactions in a box-nesting bird-parasite system in Minnesota.
Knutie Lab
University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
75 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3043, Storrs, CT 06269-3043
E-mail: saknutie AT gmail.com or sarah.knutie AT uconn.edu
Updated January 2018
University of Connecticut, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
75 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3043, Storrs, CT 06269-3043
E-mail: saknutie AT gmail.com or sarah.knutie AT uconn.edu
Updated January 2018
