The wildflower genus Mimulus (monkeyflowers) has been widely recognized as a classic ecological and evolutionary model system in studying local adaptation, speciation, plant-pollinator interactions, and species range limits. What is less known, however, is that this system also holds great promise for detailed molecular dissections of the genetic bases and developmental mechanisms of pattern formation, phenotypic diversification, and the origin of novel phenotypes.

Consumer-resource interactions play a fundamental role in all communities, be they natural or agricultural.  I will talk about how intrinsically-generated oscillations,Consumer-resource interactions play a fundamental role in all communities, be they natural or agricultural.  I will talk about how intrinsically-generated oscillations, arising from the conflict of interest between resource and consumer species influence the evolution of the functional response, and how extrinsic perturbations such as climate warming influence the dynamics and persistence of consumer-resource intera

More than 60% of earth’s terrestrial surface is managed by humans as agriculture, pasture, or urbanized areas, and land conversion continues to be the primary driver of global biodiversity loss. Despite this, little is known about the impacts of land management on multi-species interactions, gene flow, and ecosystem function. The Jha Lab investigates ecological and evolutionary processes from genes to landscapes, to quantify global change impacts on plant-animal interactions, movement ecology, and the provisioning of ecosystem services.