Physiological Ecology of Homeostasis, Development, Stress, & Disease in Animals

In our lab in the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign we explore how animals maintain homeostasis in the face of ecological variation and disease dynamics. In amphibians, we explore how development, physiological performance, and disease are determined by gut microbiome interactions with host neuroendocrine function. We also test how how these interactions scale up to impact ecological community processes such as consumer interactions, and disease outbreaks. Our question driven work includes research on amphibians, lizards, rodents, and insects. For this integrative work we use a diversity of tools that include stable isotope physiological ecology, endocrinology, evolutionary ecology modeling, and disease assays in both field and lab based experiments. 

Current projects include exploration of: (1) microbiome effects on development plasticity, physiological performance, and disease in amphibians; (2) disease ecology in amphibian communities; (3) ecology and conservation of mudpuppies; (4) evolution of life history trade-offs in lizards; (5) ecology and evolution of Peruvian frogs; (6) homeostatic physiology effects on resource use in rodents and subsequent community ecology interactions.

Interested in earning a Graduate degree in integrative physiological ecology?

I am always on the lookout for highly motivated researchers. If you are interested in earning a PhD or MS send inquiries to Dr. Robin Warne ([email protected]). Please include a CV and cover letter.

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