How will insects respond to a hotter and drier world?
How does lizard behavior change as they colonize new environments?
Why are Trinidadian guppies only found in freshwater?

Alex Mauro, PhD

 Picture
I am fascinated by the ability of some organisms to readily respond to environmental challenges whereas others cannot. To investigate this, I study the evolutionary and ecological factors that set range limits, the ecology of successful colonizers, and how abiotic and biotic stressors interact to affect wild populations exposed to novel environments. My research combines field biology, evolutionary ecology, behavioral ecology, and integrative physiology. 

I earned my PhD at Colorado State University in Dr. Cameron Ghalambor's lab, studying the range limits of Trinidadian Guppies. I recently finished a postdoc study on White Sands lizards with Dr. Erica Bree Rosenblum at the University of California Berkeley. Currently, I'm investigating how insects will respond to both heat and drought stress during a postdoc at the Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU) while being co-advised by Dr. Eric Riddell at the University of Iowa State and Dr. Ghalambor at NTNU. Contact me here!