Retracing the Evolutionary Steps Toward Symbiosis - October 18, 2023

Explore the fascinating world of interspecies relationships through a lecture that delves into groundbreaking research on rove beetles and their evolutionary journey toward symbiosis with ant colonies. Learn how the study of these remarkable insects, which have evolved from free-living predators into specialized symbionts within ant societies, provides crucial insights into the mechanisms of species interactions and evolutionary adaptation. Discover how Parker's laboratory research uses rove beetles as a model system to understand the fundamental principles behind species recognition, ecological relationships, and the evolutionary forces driving the development of intimate interspecies dependencies. Examine the convergent evolution of symbiosis across hundreds of rove beetle lineages, offering a unique window into both the how and why of novel ecological relationship formation. Gain deep insights into the conditions and forces that shape the path from independence to obligate symbiosis, contributing to our understanding of the interconnected nature of life across the biosphere.