RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research program relies on a vigorous field-based approach with a strong orientation toward ecological and evolutionary topics. I use experimental and quantitative perspectives to explore general and specific questions to understand biological diversification and habitat conservation. My background and training includes a broad interest in comparative biology, systematics, evolution, behavioral ecology, and natural history, but is very strong in the biology of butterflies.

The questions motivating my interests concern the interplay among different organisms and habitats, and what factors contribute to the organization, patterns and processes of biological diversification. Several types of questions especially intrigue me. What factors are important to the maintenance of biodiversity among areas? What measures and focal groups are meaningful to understanding biological diversification? Under what circumstances do symbiotic associations occur, and what factors are fundamental to the evolution and maintenance of these associations?

GRANT SUPPORT

• (2005-2007) National Geographic Society — Inventory and Monitoring of key Invertebrates in Suriname Rainforest. PI: P. J. DeVries
• (2004-2006) NSF. (BSI). Caterpillars and parasitoids of the Eastern Andes in Ecuador. PIs: L. A. Dyer, S. Shaw, P. J. DeVries, J. Whitfield, and T. Walla.
• (2003-2005) Amazon Conservation Association – Diversity of Peruvian butterflies and dung beetles. PI’s: P. J. DeVries & T. Larsen
• (2003-2007) NSF (DEB) Phylogentic Analyses of Nymphalid Butterfly Subfamilies Morphinae,Brassolinae and Amathusiinae Using Extensive Taxon Sampling: Implications for Classification and Natural History. PIs: C.M. Penz & P. J. DeVries

NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• MacArthur Fellowship
• Guggenheim Fellowship
• Dodge Foundation Fellowship
• Smithsonian Fellowships
• Honorable Mention, Rolex Awards for Enterprise for my research on butterfly-ant symbioses.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

• Youngsteadt, E. & P. J. DeVries. 2005. The effects of ants on the entomophagous butterfly caterpillar Feniseca tarquinius, and the role of chemical camouflage in the Feniseca-ant interaction Chemical Ecology 31: 2091-2109.
• DeVries, P. J., B. Cabral & C. M. Penz. 2004. The early stages of Apodemia paucipuncta (Riodinidae): myrmecophily, a new caterpillar ant-organ and consequences forclassification . MilwaukeePublic MuseumContributions to Biology and Geology. 102: 1-13.
• Walla, T.R. S. Engen, P. J. DeVries & R. Lande. 2004. Modeling vertical Beta-diversity in tropical butterfly communities. Oikos 107: 610-618.
• DeVries. P. J. 2003. Tough models versus weak mimics: new horizons in evolving bad taste. Journal of the Lepidopterists Society57: 235-238.
• DeVries, P. J. 2002. Differential wing-toughness among palatable and unpalatable butterflies: direct evidence supports unpalatable theory. Biotropica 34: 176-181.
• Engen, S., R. Lande, T. Walla & P. J. DeVries. 2002. Analyzing spatial structure of communities by the two-dimensional Poisson lognormal species abundance model. American Naturalist 160: 60-73.
• Penz, C. M. & P. J. DeVries. 2002. Phylogenetic analysis of Morpho butterflies (Nymphalidae, Morphinae): implications for classification and natural history. American Museum Novitates 3374: 1-33.
• DeVries, P. J. & T. R. Walla. 2001. Species diversity and community structure in neotropical fruit-feeding butterflies. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 74: 1-15.