Annika Nelson

Research in the Nelson Lab is centered on the population, community, and chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions. Much of our work focuses on understanding the factors shaping the outcomes of mutualisms, which are positive interactions among species. We investigate how these interactions are affected by factors contributing to global change, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and species invasions. Our research approaches are broad and include field- and lab-based experiments, behavioral assays, analytical chemistry, and demographic modeling. During the field season, you might find us counting aphids in subalpine meadows at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory or following ants as they disperse seeds in tropical forests at La Selva Research Station in Costa Rica. We are also beginning to study ant-plant protection mutualisms locally in North Texas. Students interested in joining my research group can learn more at: https://annikanelsonlab.weebly.com/.

After participating in hands-on field experiments as an undergraduate, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in ecology. I aim to provide students with similar hands-on training so that they can become involved in biological research, be equipped to pursue a graduate education, and work to tackle pressing global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice in their future careers. My main goal as an educator is to shape the next generation of scientists and global citizens, which I accomplish by engaging students as active learners, providing them with a deep understanding of the scientific process, and recognizing and respecting the diversity of student identities to promote an inclusive learning environment. 

•  For a complete list of publications, visit Dr. Nelson's Google Scholar Profile.

• Nelson, A.S., M. Gelambi, E. Morales-M., and S.R. Whitehead. 2023. Fruit secondary metabolites mediate the quantity and quality of a seed dispersal mutualism. Ecology 104:e4032.
• Nelson, A.S. and K.A. Mooney. 2022. The ecology and evolution of interactions between ants and honeydew-producing hemipteran insects. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 53:379-402.
• Nelson, A.S. and S.W. Whitehead. 2021. Secondary metabolites shape seed dispersal effectiveness. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 36:1113-1123.
• In the media: How plant parents ensure that their kids make it far in life
• Nelson, A.S., G. Zapata*, K. Sentner*, and K.A. Mooney. 2020. Are ants botanists? Ant associative learning of plant chemicals mediates foraging for carbohydrates. Ecological Entomology 45:251-258.
• Nelson, A.S., R.T. Pratt, J.D. Pratt, R.A. Smith, C.T. Symanski, C. Prenot, and K.A. Mooney. 2019. Progressive sensitivity of trophic levels to warming underlies an elevational gradient in ant-aphid mutualism strength. Oikos 128:540-550.
• Mooney, E.H., J.S. Phillips, C.V. Tillberg, C. Sandrow, A.S. Nelson, and K.A. Mooney. 2016. Abiotic mediation of a mutualism drives herbivore abundance. Ecology Letters 19:37-44.

• Nelson, A.S., M.A. Burt, and S.R. Whitehead. 2023. Changes in plant chemical traits across space and time mediate interactions with fruit consumers. Plant-Herbivore Interaction Gordon Research Seminar, Ventura, CA.

• Nelson, A.S., M. Gelambi, E. Morales-M., and S.R. Whitehead. 2022. Fruit secondary metabolites decrease the quantity and quality of secondary seed dispersal. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Montréal, Canada.
• Nelson, A.S. and K.A. Mooney. 2019. The effects of mutualist ant species diversity on aphid demography. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY.

Grants

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Postdoctoral Fellowship, United States Department of Agriculture, 04/23-03/25, $218,064.

• Member, Ecological Society of America (2015-present)
• Member, Entomological Society of America (2023)
• Member, Botanical Society of America (2023)