Miles Lepping Email: mlepping@umd.edu Phone: 301-405-0478

I recently completed my Master's and am now a Ph.D. student in the Shrewsbury lab. My research interests are in community ecology and biological control. Specifically, I am interested in the affect of habitat level variation on predator - prey dynamics in managed urban and agricultural systems. I am also interested in risk assessment of genetically modified organisms.

For my Master's research, I determined if differences in microclimate (temperature) between structurally simple and complex habitats directly or indirectly influenced herbivore abundance. I examined the interactions between temperature, natural enemies, and prey life stage. I found that structurally complex habitats were cooler than simple ones. At cooler temperatures herbivore developmental rate was reduced. Prey life stage influenced prey survival in the presence of predators, more so than differences in temperature. Early instars were more susceptible to predation. These results suggest that if herbivore development is slowed than predators would have a greater impact on herbivore populations.

My Ph.D. research will develop protocol for risk assessment of genetically modified organisms and examine the non-target affects of beetle-active Bt corn on native predatory beetle species. I am examining the affect of transgenic corn on functional process related to predator- prey dynamics.