Ecological immunology for insect conservation

In the ever-changing world of agriculture, organisms worldwide are under siege from anthropogenic pressures like climate change and unsustainable farming practices. These factors not only trigger pest outbreaks but also lead to a decline in beneficial insect populations, exacerbating the challenge. To cultivate climate-resilient, sustainable agro-ecosystems, we must refine our pest management strategies and bolster conservation efforts for these vital insects. My research addresses both of these aspects by examining interactions across trophic levels—plants, herbivorous insects, and their natural enemies. Towards developing improved pest management strategies, I am interested in resolving a long-standing debate in ecology: are the traits of herbivorous insects primarily shaped by resource quality (e.g., secondary metabolites, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids they acquire from the plants) or interactions with their predators, parasites, and pathogens. To conserve beneficial insects, I am interested in developing insect vaccine and incorporating this within population management programs to safeguard beneficial insects against disease outbreaks. My research follows the "Agro-Ecological Resilience Initiative" (AERI), where I use eco-immunology to gain a holistic understanding of species interactions within ecological and evolutionary contexts.