Paul Ode

Assistant Professor

C032 Plant Sciences
(970) 491-4127

Research in my laboratory focuses the behavior and ecology (both pure and applied aspects) of parasitoid wasps. My research program has two foci: 1) parasitoid behavioral ecology in general. I am particularly interested in the evolution of clutch size and sex allocation decisions. I am also interested in how sex allocation decisions are influenced by mating structure in field populations and the application of parasitoid behavioral ecology to mass-rearing programs. 2) multi-trophic interactions involving plant defenses against herbivores (mostly chemical, but other traits as well) and their interactions with parasitoids. I am very interested in how the functions of these trophic relationships compare in native and introduced habitats (e.g. Copidosoma sosares, parsnip webworms, and wild parsnip in western Europe and western US) as well as between natural and agricultural settings (e.g. comparing tri-trophic interactions among native, introduced and cultivated populations of crucifers, their herbivores, and their natural enemies; comparing tri-trophic interactions involving wild and cultivated populations of sunflower).

Courses I Teach:

Applied and General Entomology (BSPM 302) (Fall)

Biological Control (BSPM 556) (Fall – even years)

Representative Publications:

de Boer JG, Ode PJ, Rendahl AK, Vet LEM, Whitfield JB, Heimpel GE. 2008. Experimental support for multiple locus complementary sex determination in the parasitoid Cotesia vestalis. Genetics, Sep 2008; doi:10.1534/genetics.107.083907

Ode PJ, Hardy ICW. 2008. Parasitoid sex ratios and biological control. Pages 253-291 in Wajnberg É, Bernstein C, van Alphen J, eds. Behavioral Ecology of Insect Parasitoids: from theoretical approaches to field applications. Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford, UK.

Lampert EC, Zangerl AR, Berenbaum MR, Ode PJ. 2008. Tritrophic effects of xanthotoxin on the polyembryonic parasitoid Copidosoma sosares (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 34: 783-790.

de Boer JG, Ode PJ, Vet LEM, Whitfield, Heimpel GE. 2007. Diploid males sire triploid daughters and sons in the parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis. Heredity 99:288-294.

Ode PJ. 2006. Plant chemistry and natural enemy fitness: effects on herbivore and natural enemy interactions. Annual Review of Entomology 51: 163-185.