Marc Branham, Professor and Graduate Coordinator from the University of Florida, presents "The Evolution of Bioluminescent Signals in Fireflies"
- https://ento.psu.edu/events/marc-branham-seminar
- Marc Branham Seminar
- 2026-09-11T11:15:00-04:00
- 2026-09-11T12:05:00-04:00
- Marc Branham, Professor and Graduate Coordinator from the University of Florida, presents "The Evolution of Bioluminescent Signals in Fireflies"
Marc is broadly interested in the evolution of insect mating systems, but specifically interested in the use of phylogenetic reconstructions to explore the evolution of sexual communication in fireflies (Lampyridae). While his work includes the evolution of behavior (bioluminescent signals) he is also examining the evolution of the morphological structures that are associated with aspects of these mating systems.
Some of his current research includes:
- Elucidating the higher-level phylogenetic relationships within Lampyridae,
- Incorporating fossil lampyrids into matrices with extant taxa to both place them and to study character evolution, and
- Investigating the systematics and biogeography of the Caribbean firefly fauna (both fossil and extant)
His lab is oriented around research in insect phylogenetic systematics (both molecular and morphological) and the study and description of morphological variation as it relates to taxonomy and systematics.
