Katherine R. Goodrich, Ph.D.

Plant Chemoecology:

"Chemoecology" refers to chemically-mediated interactions between organisms in an ecological context. Examples would include pheromones emitted from one insect which attract another insect as a mate, or scents emitted from a flower which attract insects that carry out pollination. I am particularly interested in volatile (air-bourne) plant chemicals which mediate interactions between plants and insects. Plant-insect interactions are incredibly diverse, and can largely be divided into interactions where plants co-opt insects as pollen vectors for plant reproduction, and interactions where insects utilize plants as food sources and brood sites. I am particularly interested in how volatile plant chemicals mediate these two, often interrelated, interactions. Furthermore, I am interested in examining multi-trophic ecological interactions related to floral and vegetative scents, and how plant-to-insect olfactory signals function in concert with visual and/or tactile plant cues.

Chemoecology of spicebush (Lindera benzoin: Lauraceae)
My post-doctoral research was conducted at Muhlenberg College as part of an NSF-CRUI project studying multi-tropic interactions of spicebush. I collaborated with Richard Niesenbaum, Ph.D., Christine Ingersoll, Ph.D., and several undergraduate researchers to investigate the influence of black walnut (Juglans nigra) on levels of herbivory in spicebush (Lindera benzoin). The results of this research indicate that spicebush associated with black walnut experiences less herbivore damage (measured by leaf area removed) compared to spicebush growing in the absence of black walnut. The reduced herbivory experienced by spicebush growing in association with black walnut is potentially related to allelopathic chemicals of black walnut. We are currently working on a manuscript to publish these results.

We are also interested in spicebush volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with different types of damage (mechanical damage vs. feeding by specialist or generalist caterpillars). This research was conducted as part of an undergraduate senior thesis by Erin Jo Tiedeken (currently a Ph.D. candidate at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland). The data from this research are currently being analyzed and will be prepared for publication.

Future projects in chemoecology
The leaves of many plants produce chemicals which either deter caterpillars from feeding on them, or attract predators or parasitoids of the caterpillars which feed on them. Some caterpillars specialize on certain host plants, and have adpative mechanisms to detoxify or "turn off" these defensive plant chemicals. Future work in the Goodrich lab based upon plant-insect interactions may include identification of leaf volatiles in several local species. We will compare volatiles released under different conditions (mechanical damage, feeding by specialized caterpillars, etc). We will then use field-based insect attraction assays to deterime whether specific volatiles might act as attractants for enemies of herbivores (e.g. predators or parasitoids).

Students interested in potential research projects in the Goodrich lab
If you are a biology major at Widener and you are interested in learning more about potential research projects in my lab, please contact me via e-mail (kgoodrich@mail.widener.edu) or stop by my office during office hours. My office hours may change each semester, but my schedule will always be posted outside my office door (Kirkbride Hall 423 C).