Professor Corrie Moreau, head curator of the Cornell University Insect Collection, has explored rainforests around the world in search of the most diverse and ecologically successful group of social animals on the planet – ants.
“During my travels I discovered new species, observed important interspecies interactions, and even accidentally ‘smuggled’ home unexpected guests,” Moreau said.
Moreau will share her own cutting-edge research on the evolution of ant-plant mutualisms at the Edward P. Bass Distinguished Lecture, entitled “Ants, Microbiomes, and How I Became a Rainforest Explorer.”
The talk will take place Wednesday, April 22 at 5 pm in O.C. Marsh Hall. The event is free and open to the public. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Yale Peabody Museum and the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies.
“Ants are fascinating insects. These social animals play a crucial and chronically underappreciated role in the health and well-being of terrestrial ecosystems. Corrie’s talk will give us a glimpse into their world and show us who is really in charge,” said Peabody interim director Erika Edwards.
Moreau will 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.
She will also share how cutting edge research is happening in natural history museum collections. “I am excited to share 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 said.
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. https://cals.cornell.edu/people/corrie-moreau