Krissa Skogen, Ph.D.
Understanding the diversity of life starts with uncovering the evolutionary histories and relationships between interacting organisms and landscapes. As a botanist, I am fascinated by the rich diversity of flowering plants (angiosperms) and the insects that interact with them - both pollinators and antagonists (herbivores, seed predators, etc.) - and how these interactions may help explain the great diversity we see today. Much of my work focuses on differences between hawkmoth- and bee-pollinated plant species and the implications for floral phenotypes (shape, color, size, scent), population connectivity, and species boundaries. I'm also fascinated by the role that antagonists may play, especially those that are attracted to the same floral cues that attract pollinators (including color and scent) given the opposing, negative impacts of floral antagonists on plant fitness. Much of this work uses the Geographic Mosaic Theory of Coevolution as a model to explain the evolutionary relationships between members of the evening primrose family, Onagraceae, their hawkmoth and bee pollinators, and antagonist microlepidoptera in the genus Mompha (more info here).
I am also committed to plant conservation efforts, including investigating the impacts of anthropogenic factors on plants and pollinators. My previous work has investigated the impact of land use change on an endemic, hawkmoth-pollinated evening primrose, Oenothera harringtonii and the role that atmospheric nitrogen deposition may have played in the decline of the nitrogen-fixing legume, Desmodium cuspidatum.
Understanding the diversity of life starts with uncovering the evolutionary histories and relationships between interacting organisms and landscapes. As a botanist, I am fascinated by the rich diversity of flowering plants (angiosperms) and the insects that interact with them - both pollinators and antagonists (herbivores, seed predators, etc.) - and how these interactions may help explain the great diversity we see today. Much of my work focuses on differences between hawkmoth- and bee-pollinated plant species and the implications for floral phenotypes (shape, color, size, scent), population connectivity, and species boundaries. I'm also fascinated by the role that antagonists may play, especially those that are attracted to the same floral cues that attract pollinators (including color and scent) given the opposing, negative impacts of floral antagonists on plant fitness. Much of this work uses the Geographic Mosaic Theory of Coevolution as a model to explain the evolutionary relationships between members of the evening primrose family, Onagraceae, their hawkmoth and bee pollinators, and antagonist microlepidoptera in the genus Mompha (more info here).
I am also committed to plant conservation efforts, including investigating the impacts of anthropogenic factors on plants and pollinators. My previous work has investigated the impact of land use change on an endemic, hawkmoth-pollinated evening primrose, Oenothera harringtonii and the role that atmospheric nitrogen deposition may have played in the decline of the nitrogen-fixing legume, Desmodium cuspidatum.
Lab News
New paper in Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden!! Hawkmoth pollination facilitates long-distance pollen dispersal and reduces isolation across a gradient of land-use change - Skogen, K., R. Overson, E. Hilpman and J. Fant. 2019. 104: 495-511. https://doi.org/10.3417/2019475
The Skogen Lab welcomes new Master's students this fall, Haley Carter, Elena Loke & Reed Benkendorf!
New paper in PlosONE! Read about Dan Brusseze's master's research on Mompha moth diversity and how the group has evolved!! Dan's work reveals that the type of plant tissue that insects eat and how they eat it has been key in generating new species of Mompha The study also identified new species that were previously unknown to science.
Congrats to PhD students Katie Wenzell and Susan Deans who were awarded grants to fund their dissertation research! Both Katie and Susan received funding from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Susan also received funding from the American Philosophical Society's Lewis and Clark Fund for Research and Field Exploration.
Congrats to Kat Andrews who successfully defended her Master's thesis on March 1st!
The Skogen Lab welcomes new Master's students this fall, Haley Carter, Elena Loke & Reed Benkendorf!
New paper in PlosONE! Read about Dan Brusseze's master's research on Mompha moth diversity and how the group has evolved!! Dan's work reveals that the type of plant tissue that insects eat and how they eat it has been key in generating new species of Mompha The study also identified new species that were previously unknown to science.
Congrats to PhD students Katie Wenzell and Susan Deans who were awarded grants to fund their dissertation research! Both Katie and Susan received funding from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Susan also received funding from the American Philosophical Society's Lewis and Clark Fund for Research and Field Exploration.
Congrats to Kat Andrews who successfully defended her Master's thesis on March 1st!
Outreach & Media Updates!
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Check out Krissa's website, www.skogeninstem.com, for information on the Homeward Bound program, her efforts to empower women and girls in STEMM, ways to show your support, and more!
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Love plants, pop culture and podcasts? Krissa's the guest scientist on the 6th episode of the Botanical Mystery Tour where she talks about the death's head hawkmoth and how far women in STEM have come since the Silence of the Lambs! Check it out!
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Excited to see this article in Energy News Network highlighting the important work of Homeward Bound and contributions of Krissa and Jing Hu, another scientist in the Chicago area, who will participate in the 4th cohort in 2019! 9 Nov 2018
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