Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Program

University of Arkansas

Our research broadly emphasizes ecology and evolutionary biology, organismal biology, animal behavior, and the mechanisms that generate biodiversity. Faculty, graduate student, and postdoctoral fellow cross-cutting research addresses conceptual problems in many areas including community and ecosystem biology, global change biology, conservation genetics, molecular systematics, physiological ecology, functional genomics, and population/quantitative genetics. Investigators have worked in different study systems around the world, while the biogeographically unique Ozark and Ouachita plateau ecosystems continue to attract researchers interested in forest ecology, geology, global warming, biogeography, stream ecology, and cave ecosystem processes.

The University of Arkansas is a sustaining member of the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) allowing qualified undergraduate and graduate students to study tropical ecosystems in Costa Rica. Through the department’s U. S. Geological Survey Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, we also emphasize applied ecology and natural resources management. Collaborative association with the university’s Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST) allows graduate opportunities in land management training, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The university’s stable isotope facility, UASIL, is housed in Ferritor Hall, the Department of Biological Sciences’ research building.

Statement on the Teaching of Evolution

E&E Faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences

Andrew J. Alverson – Comparative genomics, molecular evolution, phylogenetics, and systematics

Steven J. Beaupre – Physiological ecology

Michael E Douglas – Global change and conservation biology, phylogeography, quantitative and molecular ecology

Michelle Evans-White – Limnology and stream ecosystem function

Nagayasu Nakanishi – Evolution of sensory and nervous systems

Adam Siepielski – Community ecology and dynamics of phenotypic selection

Frederick W. Spiegel – Mycology, systematics of mycetozoans, protists and fungi and ecology of mycetozoans

James M. Walker – Herpetology and ecology

J. D. Wilson – Community and landscape ecology

Jeremy Beaulieu – Comparative methods, phylogenetic methods, and character evolution

Marlis R. Douglas – Conservation genetics, molecular ecology, biogeography, biodiversity, and conservation

William J. Etges – Adaptation, ecological genomics, life history evolution, speciation biology, and systematics

Daniel D. Magoulick – Fisheries and aquatic ecosystems and conservation

Kusum Naithani – Landscape and ecosystem ecology, plant ecophysiology, Bayesian statistics, and global change biology

Kimberly G. Smith – Community ecology and avian technology

Steven L. Stephenson – Community ecology, biogeography, and mycology

Erica Westerman – Sexual selection, phenotypic plasticity, social dynamics, and speciation

Emeritus E&E Faculty

Arthur V. Brown – Stream ecology

Douglas A. James – Orinthology

Johnnie L. Gentry – Plant taxonomy and Director of the Herbarium

David R. Krementz – Wildlife ecology and management

Information concerning admission to graduate programs leading to advanced degrees (M.S., Ph.D.) may be obtained from any member of the faculty, the Department of Biological Sciences homepage, or by calling the main office (479-575-3251). Financial assistance is available in the form of nine month Teaching or Research Assistantships, available on a competitive basis. Doctoral Fellowships ($10-20,000/yr supplement to TA or RA stipend) are available for qualified applicants through the Graduate School. Deadlines for graduate admission are January 15 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. More information on the graduate program is available here.