Ants, Microbiomes, and How I Became a Rainforest Explorer

Professor Corrie Moreau has worked in museums and explored rainforests around the world on the hunt for the most diverse and ecologically successful group of social animals on the planet… Ants!  During these travels she discovered new species, observed important interspecies interactions, and even accidentally “smuggled” home unexpected guests.  In this talk she will share cutting edge research happening in natural history museum collections and the research she does on the evolution of ant-plant mutualisms questioning who exactly is in charge. 

Prof. Moreau will also share some of her research on the microbiome, which is the collection of microbes living in and on organisms that may hurt or help the host.  Specifically, she has investigated the diversity and function of the bacteria in the gut of ants to understand how these gut microbiomes help their social animal hosts to become vegetarian and build tough armor.  Join us to learn about the amazing world of rainforest research, ant-plant mutualisms, and the importance of the gut-microbiome for the little things that run the world.

Moreau is CALS Senior Associate Dean at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Moser Endowed Professor of Arthropod Biosystematics and Biodiversity, and Director and Head Curator of the Cornell University Insect Collection.