Tim Craig
tcraig@d.umn.edu

Office: Swenson Science Building Rm 153D
Phone: 218-726-8123
FAX: 218-726-8142

Link to Biology Department

Tim Craig is an Associate Professor of Biology at University of Minnesota in Duluth. He teaches Entomology, Evolution, Coevolution of Animals, Plants & Microbes, Seminar II and special topics in Undergraduate Research. His current research centers on the impact of resource variation on the evolution and population ecology of insects. He is actively involved in research on speciation and geographic variation of the Tephritid Fly Eurosta solidaginis on Goldenrod Solidago sp. in Minnesota; evolution of indirect interaction webs on native and introduced Solidago sp. in Minnesota and Japan; preference/performance of Awafuki (spittlebugs) Aphrophora pectoralis on Willows (Salix spp) in Japan; and impact of urbanization on native trees and bruchid beetles (Mimosestes amicus, M. ulkei and Stator limbatus) populations in Arizona.

Link to co-author Joanne Itami's webpage

Courses Taught and Web Links

At University of Minnesota Duluth
     Evolution
     Entomology
     Coevolution of Animals,
              Plants & Microbes
     Seminar II

Other Courses Taught
    Ecology
     Insect Ecology
     Ecology and Conservation
     Modes of Biological Thought (Scientific writing)
     Sociobiology
    Organic Evolution

 

Research Interests

Speciation

Plant-insect-parasitoid Interactions

Population Dyamics

Insect Behavior

Link to Complete List of Publications

Selected List of Publications:

Craig, T.P., J.K. Itami and J.V. Craig. 2007. Host plant genotype influences survival of hybrids between Eurosta solidaginis host races. EVOLUTION 61:2607-2613.

Craig, T.P., J.K. Itami and J.D. Horner. 2007. Geographic variation in the evolution and coevolution of a tritrophic interaction. EVOLUTION 61:1137-1152.

Craig, T. P. 2007. Evolution of Plant Mediated Interactions. Pp 331-353. in: T. Ohgushi, T. P. Craig, and P.W. Price (eds.) Ecological Communities: Plant mediation in indirect interaction webs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. UK.

Craig, T.P.and J. K. Itami. 2008. Evolution of preference and performance relationships, Chapter 2, In: Tilmon, K. (Ed.) Specialization, Speciation, and Radiation: The Evolutionary Biology of Herbivorous Insects. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Craig, T. P. and T. Ohgushi. 2002. Preference and performance in the spittlebug, Aphrophora pectoralis on four species of willow. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY 27:529-540.

Craig, T. P., J. D. Horner and J. K. Itami. 2001. Genetics, experience and host plant preference in Eurosta solidaginis: implications for host shifts and speciation. EVOLUTION 55:773-782

Craig, T. P., J. K. Itami, W. G. Abrahamson, J. D. Horner and J. V. Craig.  1999 Oviposition preference and offspring performance of Eurosta solidaginis on genotypes of Solidago altissima.  Oikos 86:119-126.

For a Complete list click here Complete List of Publications

Current Local Research

Speciation and geographical variation in Eurosta solidaginins and its host Solidago species

UMD UROP student projects