| R. Craig Stillwell
PhD Candidate
University of Kentucky
E-mail: rstil2@uky.edu
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Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, December 1999 Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY
Research Interests
Evolution of life history traits, geographic variation in body size, adaptation to temperature, phenotypic plasticity
Current Research
My research interests lie at the interface of evolutionary biology and ecology (evolutionary ecology). For my dissertation, I am studying the phenotypic plasticity of body size and related life history traits in seed beetles. In a series of laboratory experiments and field surveys, I am trying to determine whether the plasticity that is induced by variation in the developmental environment is adaptive. Furthermore, I am utilizing modern tools of quantitative genetics to determine the amount of genetic variation present within and among populations for plasticity in body size. In a related project, I am looking at the environmental factors (such as temperature, host quality, seasonality, etc.) that influence selection and generate natural geographic variation in body size of beetles throughout the beetle’s entire range (using 95 populations from Ecuador to the southwestern United States). These projects are all intended to further our understanding of how variation in the developmental environment can lead to the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and the evolution of body size in insects.
Grants/Support Funding
2005 University of Kentucky, John L. Clarke and Fred W. Knapp Student Travel Award. R. Craig Stillwell. $150.
2005 University of Kentucky, Graduate Student Travel Support. R. Craig Stillwell. $1000.
2004 University of Kentucky, Dissertation Enhancement Award. Rapid evolution of a latitudinal size cline in the seed beetle Stator limbatus. R. Craig Stillwell. $2850.
2004 University of Kentucky, Graduate Student Travel Support. R. Craig Stillwell. $400.
2003 University of Kentucky, Commonwealth Research Award. R. Craig Stillwell. $1000.
2003 University of Kentucky, Graduate Student Research Support. R. Craig Stillwell. $400.
Publications
Stillwell, R. C., G. E. Morse and C. W. Fox. 2007. Geographic variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism of a seed-feeding beetle. The American Naturalist in press.
Stillwell, R. C., W. G. Wallin, L. J. Hitchcock and C. W. Fox. 2007. Phenotypic plasticity in a complex world: Interactive effects of food and temperature on fitness components of a seed beetle. Oecologia in press.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. 2007. Environmental effects on sexual size dimorphism of a seed-feeding beetle. Oecologia in press.
Fox, C. W., R. C. Stillwell and J, Moya-Laraño. 2007. Variation in selection and the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in two seed-feeding beetles. In press for D. F. Fairbairn, W. U. Blanckenhorn and T. Szekely (eds.) Sex, size and gender roles: Evolutionary studies of sexual size dimorphism.
Blanckenhorn, W. U., R. C. Stillwell, K. A. Young, C. W. Fox and K. G. Ashton. 2006. When Rensch meets Bergmann: Does sexual size dimorphism change systematically with latitude? Evolution 60:2004-2011. pdf
Fox, C. W., R. C. Stillwell, W. G. Wallin and L. J. Hitchcock. 2006. Temperature and host species affect nuptial gift size in a seed-feeding beetle. Functional Ecology 20:1003-1011. pdf
Fox, C. W., K. L. Scheibly, W. G. Wallin, L. J. Hitchcock, R. C. Stillwell and Benjamin P. Smith. 2006. The genetic architecture of lifespan and mortality rates: Gender and species differences in inbreeding load of two seed-feeding beetles. Genetics 174:763-773.pdf
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. 2005. Complex patterns of phenotypic plasticity: interactive effects of temperature during rearing and oviposition. Ecology 86:924-934.pdf
Fox, C. W., R. C. Stillwell, A. R. Amarillo-S, M. E. Czesak and F. J. Messina. 2004. Genetic architecture of population differences in oviposition behavior of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 17:1141-1151.pdf
Research Presentations
Stillwell, R. C. The evolutionary ecology of body size in seed-feeding beetles. 2006. Invited speaker. Department of Biology Seminar, Campbellsville University.
Stillwell, R. C., and C. W. Fox. Environmental effects on sexual size dimorphism of a seed-feeding beetle. 2006. 2nd Place Ph.D. Student Paper Competition, 19th Annual Forum of the Ohio Valley Entomological Association. Newport, KY.
Stillwell, R. C., W. G. Wallin, L. J. Hitchcock and C. W. Fox. Phenotypic plasticity in a complex world: The interactive effects of rearing host and temperature. 2006. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Memphis, TN.
Stillwell, R. C., and C. W. Fox. Environmental effects on sexual size dimorphism of a seed-feeding beetle. 2006. Spring Research Symposium. Center for Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C., W. G. Wallin, L. J. Hitchcock and C. W. Fox. Phenotypic plasticity in a complex world: The interactive effects of rearing host and temperature. 2006. Ecolunch, Department of Biology, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C.., G. E. Morse and C. W. Fox. Geographic variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism of the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2005. International workshop on the evolution of sexual size dimorphism. Monte Veritá, Locarno, Switzerland.
Stillwell, R. C., G. E. Morse and C. W. Fox. Ecological factors producing geographic variation in body size of the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2005. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Montréal, Canada.
Stillwell, R. C., G. E. Morse and C. W. Fox. Ecological factors producing geographic variation in body size of the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2005. The Organization for Tropical Studies. Palo Verde Biological Station, Costa Rica.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Geographic variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism of the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2005. Spring Research Symposium. Center for Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. The adaptive significance of temperature acclimation in the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2004. 1st Place Ph.D. Student Paper Competition, 17th Annual Forum of the Ohio Valley Entomological Association. Hanover, IN.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Genetic vs. non-genetic responses of body size to temperature in a seed beetle: adaptation to local temperature? 2004. Ecolunch, Department of Biology, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Genetic vs. non-genetic responses of body size to temperature in a seed beetle: adaptation to local temperature? 2004. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Portland, OR.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Thermal evolution of growth and life history traits in a seed beetle: Phenotypic plasticity and the effect of temperature during rearing and oviposition. 2003. Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Cincinnati, OH.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Thermal evolution of life history traits: The effect of temperature during development and egg laying. 2003. Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Savannah, GA.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Thermal evolution of life history traits: The effect of temperature during development and egg laying. 2003 Spring Research Symposium. Center for Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. Temperature effects on life history traits of the desert seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2002. Ecolunch, Department of Biology, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C. and C. W. Fox. The role of temperature in the life history evolution of the seed beetle Stator limbatus. 2002. Department of Entomology Proposal Seminar, University of Kentucky.
Stillwell, R. C. and L. K. Rieske. Ecological interactions between herbivore feeding guilds: implications for plant productivity. 2001. Sigma Zeta National Convention. Campbellsville, KY.
Stillwell, R. C. and L. K. Rieske. Ecological interactions between herbivore feeding guilds: implications for plant productivity. 1999. Department of Biology Seminar, Campbellsville University.
Laboratory
Dr. Charles Fox
Group
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Insect Systematics