gruner lab
Insect ecology and biodiversity

Welcome to the Gruner Lab at the University of Maryland.
We investigate species interactions in food webs, the maintenance of biodiversity in ecological communities, and their feedbacks with ecosystem processes. We believe it is important to apply basic science to address environmental challenges, particularly with biodiversity conservation, biological invasions, and climate change.
Maintenance of field exclosures at Sagehen Creek, CA
Pupal chambers of Cotesia, a parasitoid wasp of the saddleback caterpillar. Silver Spring, MD
Common garden for mangrove propagules, Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft Pierce, FL
View of Hawaiian forest from the canopy of Acacia koa
Islet dominated by Pisonia grandis, with nesting red-footed boobies. Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific
‘ōhelo berries (Vaccinium sp.) near kīpuka, Saddle Road, Hawaiʻi
Melissa measuring soil moisture in agricultural field, central Maryland
Measuring plant cover at Sageheen Creek, CA
upside-down Cassiopea jellies, partnering with dinoflagellates to photosynthesize. Twin Cays, Belize
feeding galleries in the cambium of ash, courtesy of the emerald ash borer
American toad, Baxter State Park, ME
canopy tracking station for rodents in kīpuka, Saddle Road, Hawaiʻi
Field plots in red mangrove lagoon, Twin Cays, Belize
Aggregation of large milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus) on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Silver Spring, MD
Canopy interception trap for insects
tiger beetle blends into the sand, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
Richard and Louie setting up field exclosures at Sagehen Creek, CA
bark beetles attacking red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) propagule, FL
Field exclosure cages to prevent bird access to ‘ōhia lehua, Hawaiʻi island
Caterpillar of the brown-hooded owlet moth (Noctuidae)
Mayda sampling arthropods with the suction method
Lonely Townes malaise trap in salt marsh, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, FL
Hawaiian Omiodes caterpillar feeding underneath ‘ōhia bark
Dan photographs plants near the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park
teneral Magicicada drying it wings. Silver Spring, MD
A lone ōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) flowers on the floor of Kilauea Iki crater, Hawaiʻi
Magicicada from Brood X, 2021. Silver Spring, MD
Elske collecting canopy arthropods, Hawai`i island
Hawaiʻi Dimensions of Biodiversity field team
red mangrove grotto. Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún, Mexico.
common grackle captures Magicicada adult. Silver Spring, MD
Lilly scouts field sites in Catoctin Mountan Park, MD (L. Estes)
Angela marking ash logs for emerald ash borer research
Graduate students learning the single-rope method for tree climbing, Hawaiʻi island
Great egret on the New River, Belize
black-headed trogon feasts on juicy caterpillar