Levi Morran, PhD
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(he/him) |
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Programs
- Full Member - Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Education
PhD, University of Oregon, 2009BS, Indiana University, 2004
Contact Information
Email: levi.morran@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-7092
Address:
O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, Room 1029
1510 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
1940-001-1AC
Coevolution accounts for a significant proportion of the evolutionary change that occurs in nature. My goal is to determine the role that selective pressures derived from reciprocal interspecific interactions play in shaping the genetic composition and evolutionary trajectories of coevolving populations. The nature of these interspecific interactions spans a continuum from highly mutualistic to highly parasitic, and I seek to understand the evolutionary implications of interactions at both ends of the spectrum using several nematode/bacteria systems.
My work on mating system evolution utilizes the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and is built upon a hypothesis-testing framework that is motivated by evolutionary theory. My goal is to understand the widespread maintenance of outcrossing in nature that seems to defy evolutionary theory. My previous work established two selective pressures, both elevated mutation rates and exposure to novel environments (including pathogens), as conditions that can favor outcrossing over self-fertilization. Additionally, my research demonstrated the ability of coevolving pathogens to favor the evolution and maintenance of outcrossing despite the cost of males. This work further established the Red Queen hypothesis as a plausible explanation for the widespread prevalence of outcrossing in nature. I am now working to understand the underlying genetic change and phenotypic evolution that occurred as result of antagonistic coevolution.

Milon Barmon (he/him)
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Entrance Year: 2022

Andrew Cameron (he/him)
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Entrance Year: 2024

Emily Smith (she/her)
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Entrance Year: 2021
Topic: Mating System Evolution
Michelle McCauley
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
PhD, 2024
"An Experimental Test of the Pluralistic Approach to the Maintenance of Outcrossing"
Jordan Lewis
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
PhD, 2022
"The influence of evolutionary reciprocity and genetic architecture on the evolution of host defense in Caenorhabditis elegans"
Kayla Stoy
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
PhD, 2022
"The persistence of host-symbiont mutualisms: Investigating the roles of genetic variation, coevolution, and transmission mode"
Amanda (Shurzinske) Smith
Genetics and Molecular Biology
PhD, 2021
"FUNGAL PATHOGEN GENOME STABILITY AND ADAPTIVE POTENTIAL DEPEND ON HOST IMMUNE STATUS AND PATHOGEN PLOIDY"
Kim Hoang
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
PhD, 2019
"ESTABLISHING A NOVEL BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION USING A NEMATODE-BACTERIUM MODEL THROUGH EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION"
P. Signe White
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
PhD, 2019
"THE EVOLUTION OF VIRULENCE IN HETEROGENEOUS HOST POPULATIONS"
Dorian Feistel
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
MS, 2017