The Doremus Lab studies the ecology and evolution of arthropod-microbe symbioses
We use an integrative approach to explore how maternally transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria modify arthropod biology and how these widespread symbioses respond to environmental variation. Our current focus is on the endosymbionts of spiders, which are an emerging non-insect model system for studying heritable symbioses. These heritable bacteria can manipulate spider reproduction, are sensitive to environmental stressors like temperature, and show substantial geographic variation in their frequencies.