LAB NEWS UPDATE: The Snyder lab had a good showing at this year's Entomology meeting in San Diego! Shawn Steffan placed first, and Gretchen Snyder second, in the President's Prize (oral paper) competition in their respective sections. Tobin Northfield gave an invited symposium talk on his MS work from the University of Florida.

Welcome to...

THE SNYDER LAB HOMEPAGE

 

Research Interests

We study the ecology of predators, pathogens and parasitoids that attack insect herbivores, using a combination of large-scale field experiments and behavioral studies in the laboratory. We work at the interface between basic and applied ecology. Biological control is a rigorous test of how well we really understand predator-prey interactions, because we try to manipulate agricultural systems to increase the effectiveness of natural enemies. 

 

Right now the Big Questions in the lab are:

  1. Does greater biodiversity among natural enemies lead to more effective control of herbivores? More predator and pathogen species might provide a broader-based attack on different pest life stages, but also might provide more opportunities for predators to feed on one another, or pathogens to infect predators rather than herbivores.
  2. Can we strengthen biological control by diversifying on-farm habitats? We are attempting to increase densities of natural enemies, and thus herbivore suppression, by providing predators with undisturbed in-field refuges.
  3. Are there important ecological links between soil fertility and the biological control of insects? Organic and other cropping systems under the larger heading of "sustainable agriculture" seek to build organic matter in soil. We are examining how increased organic matter impacts soil foodwebs, and interactions between species in below- and aboveground foodwebs.
Washington is very diverse ecologically, with equally diverse agriculture.  More than 100 crops are grown here, providing opportunities for students to find a system that matches almost any question of interest.

Address
Department of Entomology
Washington State University
Pullman, WA  99164-6382
phone: 509/335-3724
fax: 509/335-1009
E-mail: wesnyder@wsu.edu

Predators on wildflowers planted as a refuge for natural enemies.
 
 

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