• Mayra C. Vidal

    PhD Candidate

    Ecology and Evolution

    University of Denver

     

    GO TO MY NEW AND UP-TO-DATE WEBSITE: MAYRAVIDAL.WEEBLY.COM

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    About me

    I am an evolutionary ecologist with interest in the evolution of insect-plant interactions. From 2008 to 2013, I worked at Dr. Paulo Oliveira's Laboratory of Behavior and Ecology of Ants (UNICAMP-Brazil) with focus on ant-plant mutualism and multi-trophic interactions, where I also received my Master's degree. I am currently doing my PhD at University of Denver in the Murphy lab, where I intend to get more experience with methods for ecological and evolutionary research. In my PhD, I am studying the evolution of diet breadth and speciation of insect herbivores, using an extremely generalist herbivore as my model organism. My major interests are insect-plant interactions, multitrophic interactions, evolution, coevolution, speciation, and science education.

     

    See also my Research Gate and Curriculo Lattes

  • Projects

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    Ecological speciation and specialization of a generalist herbivorous insect

    Understanding diet breadth evolution of herbivorous insects and its relation to speciation is of great challenge in insect-plant studies. Top-down and bottom-up pressures are important in shaping diet breadth of herbivores, however those pressures may vary in the different environments that a herbivore occurs. In my PhD project, advised by Dr Shannon Murphy, I am working with Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea, Erebidae), an extremely generalist herbivore that in Colorado has a relatively narrower diet than other populations. I am investigating how different combinations of top-down and bottom-up forces influence the diet breadth of populations of this herbivore. I am also conducting genetic analysis and lab experiments to see how host plant use influences the local adaptation to hosts and speciation of herbivores.

    Check out the research we are doing:

     

    VIDAL, M.C., and S.M. Murphy. Bottom-up vs. top-down effects on terrestrial insect herbivores: a meta-analysis. In Press: Ecology Letters DOI: 10.1111/ele.12874.

     

    Murphy, S.M., VIDAL, M.C., Hallagan, C. J., Barnes E. E. and E.D. Broder. A slow-growth high-mortality meta-analysis for insects: A comment on Chen & Chen. In press: Insect Science DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12459.

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    Science teaching

    One of my goals as a scientist is to motivate young students to pursue a career in science, or at least to increase their interest in science. I am especially motivated to increase the contribution of women and minorities in science.

    In 2016 and 2017, I had the great opportunity to work at the DU SciTech Girls Camp, developed by Dr. Murphy, Dr. Tinghitella and Dr. Hoffman. In this camp, we spend a whole week with amazing girls talking science, building circuits, programming, collecting insects and using telescopes.

    I am also interested in improving the understanding of Ecology and Evolution in higher education. I am currently working on the development of case studies with Dr. Shannon Murphy, Dr. Robin Tinghitella and Whitley Lehto.

     

    Check out our case studies:

     

    Grenis, K., L. C. Cepero, and M. C. VIDAL. 2016. Evaluating adaptive hypotheses: the case of the poop-shooting caterpillar. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. website

    Grenis, K., Lehto, W.R., VIDAL, M.C., Murphy, S.M. and R.M. Tinghitella. Animals on Treadmills: critical thinking and public perception of science. 2017. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. website

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    Top-down effects and multi-trophic interactions in a herbivore-ant-plant system

    In my master's research, advised by Dr. Paulo S. Oliveira and Dr. Sebastian Sendoya, I studied a multi-trophic system involving a new species of ant-preying dipteran larvae, ants, predators, sucking and chewing herbivores associated with a species of Cerrado plant. In this system, I investigated the effect of a new species of ant-predator on the ant-plant mutualism and indirect effect on other arthropods associated with this system.

    We found that this sit-and-wait predator builds its sticky shelter on top of extrafloral nectaries and eats prey that end up trapped to its shelter. Most of the prey are ants. The presence of this ant-preying larva disrupts the mutualism between ants and plant, which results in increased herbivore abundance and herbivory on the plant.

     

    Read more about our research:

     

    VIDAL, M.C., S.F. Sendoya and P.S. Oliveira. 2016. Mutualism exploitation: Predatory drosophilid larvae sugar-trap ants and jeopardize facultative ant-plant mutualism. Ecology 97: 1650-1657.

     

    VIDAL, M.C. and C.R. Vilela. 2015. A new species of Rhinoleucophenga from Brazilian cerrado savanna associated with extrafloral nectaries of Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 108:932-940.

  • Presentations and Publications

    Publications

    9. VIDAL, M.C., and S.M. Murphy. Bottom-up versus top-down effects on terrestrial insect herbivores: a meta-analysis. In Press: Ecology Letters DOI: 10.1111/ele.12874.

     

    8. Lehto, W.R., Murphy, S.M., Vidal, M.C., and R.M. Tinghitella. Life Tables, Darwin’s Finches, and the Dynamics of Small, Island Populations. Accepted: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.


    7. Murphy, S.M., VIDAL, M.C., Hallagan, C. J., Barnes E. E. and E.D. Broder. A slow-growth high-mortality meta-analysis for insects: A comment on Chen & Chen. In press: Insect Science DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12459.


    6. VIDAL, M.C., K. Grenis, W.R. Lehto, R.M. Tinghitella, and S.M. Murphy. Butterfly hunt: the role of density dependence in Batesian and Mullerian mimicry. In press: National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.


    5. Grenis, K., Lehto, W.R., VIDAL, M.C., Murphy, S.M. and R.M. Tinghitella. Animals on Treadmills: critical thinking and public perception of science. 2017. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.
     

    4. VIDAL, M.C., Sendoya, S.F. and P.S. Oliveira. 2016. Mutualism exploitation: Predatory drosophilid larvae sugar-trap ants and jeopardize facultative ant-plant mutualism. Ecology 97: 1650-1657.

     

    3. Grenis, K., Cepero, L.C. and M. C. VIDAL. 2016. Evaluating adaptive hypotheses: the case of the poop-shooting caterpillar. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. website

     

    2. VIDAL, M.C. and C.R. Vilela. 2015. A new species of Rhinoleucophenga from Brazilian cerrado savanna associated with extrafloral nectaries of Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 108:932-940.

     

    1. Mota, L.L., S.F. Sendoya, A. Tacioli, and M.C. VIDAL. 2014 Mites inhabiting a lepidopteran egg. Jounal of the Lepidopterists' Society 68 (2): 141-142.

     

     

     

    Presentations

    Evolution (2017):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Speciation and divergence of a generalist herbivore. (poster presentation)

     

    DURAPs (2017) - Top paper presentation highlighted in the Chancellor's pannel:

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Bottom-up and top-down effects on the fitness of insect herbivores: a meta-analysis. (oral presentation)

     

    Gordon Research Conference and Seminar – Plant-Herbivore Interactions (2017):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Bottom-up and top-down effects on the fitness of insect herbivores: a meta-analysis. (poster presentation)

     

    Front Range Student Ecology Symposium – Colorado State University (2017):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Bottom-up and top-down effects on the fitness of insect herbivores: a meta-analysis. (poster presentation) Winner of 2nd Best Graduate Student Poster Award.

     

    ICE 2016 - International Congress of Entomology (2016):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Influence of tri-trophic fitness on the diet breadth evolution of a generalist herbivore. (poster presentation)

     

    GREEBs - Guild of Rocky Mountain Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists (2016):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Influence of tri-trophic fitness on the diet breadth evolution of a generalist herbivore. (oral presentation)

     

    Lepidopterists' Society Meeting (2016):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Variation in host plant use between the two types of fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, Erebidae). (oral presentation)

     

    Front Range Student Ecology Symposium – Colorado State University (2016):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Variation in host plant use between the two types of fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, Erebidae). (oral presentation)

     

    26th Annual Meeting of the High Country Lepidopterists (2015):

    Vidal, M.C. & Murphy, S.M. Variation in host plant use between the two types of fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea, Erebidae). (oral presentation)

     

    100th Annual Meeting and Expoisition of the Ecological Society of America (2015):

    VIDAL, M. C.; Sendoya, S.F ; Oliveira, P.S. Predatory dipteran larvae affect mutualism between ants and plant. (oral presentation)

     

    Front Range Student Ecology Symposium – Colorado State University (2015):

    VIDAL, M. C.; Sendoya, S.F ; Oliveira, P.S. Predatory dipteran larvae affect mutualism between ants and plant. (oral presentation)

     

    GREEBs - Guild of Rocky Mountain Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists (2014):

    VIDAL, M. C. ; Oliveira, P.S. ; Sendoya, S.F. Predatory dipteran larvae affect mutualism between ants and plant. (oral presentation)

     

    49th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (2012):
    VIDAL, M. C. ; Oliveira, P.S. ; Sendoya, S.F. Ant-preying dipteran larvae exploit a facultative mutualism between ants and Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae). (oral presentation)

     

    XX Mirmecology Symposium - I Encuentro de Mirmecologistas de las Americas (2011):

    VIDAL, M. C. ; Oliveira, P.S. ; Sendoya, S.F. Preliminary studies of a dipteran larvae exploiting Qualea-ants mutualism. (poster)

    Periodic Reviewer

    2015-now

    Journal of Insect Science

    Ecological Entomology

    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

    Arthopod-Plant Interactions

  • Education

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    University of Denver

    PhD in Ecology & Evolution (2013 - now)

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    Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

    Master in Ecology (2011-2013)

    • Thesis: Ant predation by Rhinoleucophenga myrmecophaga n. sp. (Drosophilidae) and its effect on ant-Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae) interaction
    • Advisors: Paulo S. Oliveira and Sebastian F. Sendoya
    • Sponsor: FAPESP, Brazil (process #: 2010/13619-0 and 2011/18580-8)

     

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    Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

    B.S. in Biological Sciences (2007-2011)

    • Undergraduation research:

    1. Preliminary study of an ant-preying dipteran larvae: behavior, natural history and interaction with prey.

    2. Morphology and trophic ecology of an ant-preying dipteran larvae

  • Experience

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    Teaching Assistant

    University of Denver

    Fall 2016 - current

    Courses:

    • Sustaining Life Lab
    • Evolution, Heredity, and Biodiversity Lab
    • General Ecology Lab
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    Assistant and Organizer

    DU SciTech Girls Camp

    July 2016 and August 2017

    • Organize the camp
    • Help girls with activities
    • Supervised by Shannon Murphy, Robin Tinghitella and Jennifer Hoffman
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    Research Assistant

    University of Denver

    Summers of 2015 and 2017

    • Development of Case Studies of ecological concepts to be used at Ecology Classes.
    • In 2017, I am assisting with ddRAD-seq and bioinformatics.
    • Supervised by Shannon M. Murphy and Robin Tinghitella
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    Lab Research Intern 

    Paulo S. Oliveira lab of Ecology and Behavior of Ants, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) - Brazil

    October 2008-December 2010

    • Assist with PhD and master's projects
    • Field Assistant
    • Handling different species of caterpillars, hemipterans and ants from Cerrado savanna
  • Funding and Awards

    2017

    Outstanding Research Award - Department of Biological Sciences and Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Denver

    2017

    Top paper award DURAPs, University of Denver

    2017

    Coverage to attend Avida-ED Active LENS educator workshop

    2016

    International Biodiversity Foundation grant to attend the Lepidopterists’ Society meeting

    2016

    University of Denver Dissertation Fellowship $2,500

    2016

    Jefferson County Open Space - Small Grant Program $882

    2015

    Shubert Award - Dept Biological Sciences, DU $500

    2015

    Jefferson County Open Space- Small Grant Program $1,552

    2014

    University of Denver Doctoral Fellowship for Inclusive Engagement $ 4,500

    2013-2017

    Science without Borders (Brazil) - Fellowship for doctorate abroad.

    2011-2013

    FAPESP (Brazil) -  Master's Scholarship

    2009-2010

    CAPES/PIBIC (Brazil) - Scholarship for undergraduate research

  • Services

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    Graduate Students of the Four Faculty (GSFF) representative for Biology Dept.

    University of Denver

    Sept 2016 -

    • "Graduate Students of the Four Faculties (GSFF) is a graduate student run organization at the University of Denver. Overall, GSFF has two main goals. The first goal of this organization is to help graduate students, in the departments of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Math, and Engineering and Computer Science, fund their conference endeavors. The second goal of GSFF is to discuss and/or address any issues that may arise pertaining to graduate students’ needs at DU."
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    Volunteer at Entomological Section of the Denver Museum of  Nature and Science

    2015-2016

    • Sort arthropods for NEON.
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    Co-Secretary of Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association (BSGSA)

    University of Denver

    Sept 2014- August 2015

    • Assist in organizing events and meetings
    • BSGSA was funded by Laurel Cepero as a forum for expression of student opinion, a mechanism for discussion and enactment of student decisions, and opportunities for social interactions among graduate students
  • News

    8/28/2017

    The DU SciTech camp was a success!! I am really happy to meet all the amazing girls that spent the week with us! Check out the blog of one of the girls (Zoe) with a review of the camp: https://kidsanimalstation.com/2017/08/16/bug-collecting-how-to-and-du-camp-review/

     

    Our case study to help students develop critical thinking has been published: Grenis, K., Lehto, W.R., VIDAL, M.C., Murphy, S.M. and R.M. Tinghitella. Animals on Treadmills: critical thinking and public perception of science. 2017. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science.

    07/20/2017

    Our DU SciTech camp for girls was published in the Denver Post! I am so excited for our camp, we will host 20 girls this year!

    http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/26/regis-du-free-stem-camps-middle-school-girls/

    05/30/2017

    Last week, I received the Outstanding Research Award from the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics! This award is given to one student per year. I am really happy to receive this recognition of my work, and this was the 4th award that I received this year. This year is being great so far!

    03/22/2017

    Our poster "Bottom-up and top-down effects on fitness of insect herbivores: a meta-analysis" (by M.C. Vidal and S.M. Murphy) won the 2nd best poster award at the Front Range Student Ecology Symposium (Colorado State University).

    Our meta-analysis will also be featured as a top paper at DURAPS (University of Denver Symposium). I am very excited with the good feedback we are receive with our project!

     

    Our comment on Chen and Chen meta-analysis (journal Insect Science, published in 2017) was accepted for publication.

     

    We also had 2 case studies accepted for publication and 1 in review. Check out our publication under "publications" section.

    07/20/2016

    Our paper on the exploitation of an ant-plant mutualism by Drosophilidae larvae was posted in a Dutch blog, check it out: http://blog.willyvanstrien.nl/2016/07/19/nare-vlieg/

     

    During the whole week I have been doing some cool science-related activities with some amazing girls in the SciTech Girls Camp at DU, developed by Dr. Murphy, Dr. Tinghitella and Dr. Hoffman. Check out the camp at DU news: http://news.du.edu/science-and-fun/

     

    Our case study developed to help teaching density dependence in Ecology classes was sent for external revision by the NCCSTS.