The Porter Lab - Research

We work on a wide range of topics where the fields of evolutionary ecology, behavioral ecology, and ecophysiology intersect. The thread that ties our research program together is the desire to better understand the evolutionary process in an ecological context. Below are the three main foci of the lab.

The ecology of adaptation and speciation

Adaptive radiations are characterized by rapid bursts of ecological divergence which may (or may not) lead to the formation of new species. Although the association between adaptation and speciation has been a focus of evolutionary biology since Darwin, the mechanisms that link these key processes remain enigmatic. We seek to better understand the conditions that lead to a coupling between adaptive divergence and speciation. Most of this work has focused on the red crossbill complex, an iconic example of adaptive radiation and ecological speciation. The tractable ecology of this system gives us unparalleled opportunities to explore the interplay between adaptive diversification and the evolution of reproductive isolation. We continue to work on several topics in this system, such as cultural evolution of vocalizations, the repeatability of evolutionary divergence, and the complex link between diet and trophic morphology.

Ecophysiology and endotherm evolution

The effects of temperature on endotherm physiology are massively complicated by all of the adaptations that make endotherms endotherms. During my postdoctoral research with Eric Riddell at Iowa State University, I began using biophysical models to explore how temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation interact to shape endotherm physiology and evolution. This included testing thermoregulatory hypotheses for endotherm color evolution, the adaptive significance of near-infrared feather reflectance, and thermal performance curves in endotherms. This research involved fieldwork on a long-term tree swallow study population in Iowa and lots of measuring insulation properties in bird museum specimens. We are planning on expanding our use of biophysical models to tackle questions about the winter ecology of birds in cold places.

Foraging theory and comparative methods

Organisms that have adaptations for feeding on specific prey often act as generalists with broad dietary niches. This paradox has generated substantial confusion over the role of competition in phenotypic diversification; an issue that permeates much of evolutionary ecology today. In a 1998 paper, Beren Robinson and David Sloan Wilson proposed a resolution to this paradox, which posits that low-ranking, difficult resources available during periods of food limitation drive most diet-related adaptation. We have recently begun using comparative methods to test predictions from Robinson and Wilson's model. We are interested in further integrating this model with comparative methods to explore the consequences for phenotypic evolution, dietary partitioning, and the mechanisms driving community-level patterns of species and phenotypic diversity.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse