Temperature-dependent behaviors

An important question at the intersection of ecosystem management and biological conservation is how biodiversity affects ecosystem services and outcomes. We investigate how different species' responses to temperature can affect ecosystem-level interactions and abundances.

The key contribution of this work is in pinpointing interactions which drive communities and describing their interplay with individual-level response to temperature. Below are some important components of the research.

• Trait-based ODE model for insect predation
• Temperature effects on insect metabolism
• Formulation and optimization of performance metric

Ongoing work on this project concerns temperature-dependent interactions between competing mosquito species.

Publication List

• Amanda N. Laubmeier, Nusrat Tabassum, Boluwatife Awoyemi, J.R. McMillan. Estimating temperature-dependent competition rates for two species of mosquito larvae. In progress, 2024.
  Contribution Statement: I worked with JRM on the original research question. I generated final results and led manuscript composition.


• Nusrat Tabassum, Kyle Dahlin, J.R. McMillan, A.N. Laubmeier. Competition outcomes for a stage-structured, two-species mosquito model with larval competition. In progress, 2024.
  Contribution Statement: I supervised NT, who led results and composition for the manuscript, based on original research question by KD. I provided NT with computational recommendations for key results and contributed edits to the manuscript.


• Amanda N. Laubmeier, Nusrat Tabassum, Brigitte Tenhumberg. Temperature fluctuation alters optimal predator community composition for anticipated biological control. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2023.
  Contribution Statement: I conceived the original research question, with refining contributions from BT. I supervised NT, who developed models and preliminary results. I generated final results and led manuscript composition, with significant input from BT.


• Amanda N. Laubmeier, Richard Rebarber, Brigitte Tenhumberg. Towards understanding factors influencing the benefit of diversity in predator communities for prey suppression. Ecosphere, 2020.
  Contribution Statement: I conceived the original research question, with refining contributions from RR and BT. I generated all results and led manuscript composition.