Plant-insect relationships are fundamentally interesting and have important implications for agriculture, forestry, and conservation biology. This course gives an overview of major ideas, historical controversies, and current research on insect-plant relationships. We'll explore the mechanisms and evolution of plant defenses to insect herbivory, insect counter-adaptations, behavioral ecology and interactions across trophic levels, pollination biology, causes of insect outbreaks, and applications to managed systems.

Plant-insect relationships are fundamentally interesting and have important implications for agriculture, forestry, and conservation biology. This course gives an overview of major ideas, historical controversies, and current research on insect-plant relationships. We'll explore the mechanisms and evolution of plant defenses to insect herbivory, insect counter-adaptations, behavioral ecology and interactions across trophic levels, pollination biology, causes of insect outbreaks, and applications to managed systems.