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Anna M. Schmidt
Study systems include
Carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus, C. castenaus and C. americanus)
Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina, Polyrachis robsonii)
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (behaviourally manipulating fungi a.k.a. “zombie-makers”)
Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis)
Selected publications
Schmidt, A.M., Linksvayer, T.A., Boomsma, J.J and Pedersen, J.S. (2011). No benefit in diversity? The effect of genetic variation on survival and disease resistance in a polygynous social insect. Ecological Entomology. 36: 751-759.
Schmidt, A.M., Linksvayer, T.A., Boomsma, J.J. and Pedersen, J.S. (2011). Queen-worker caste ratio depends on colony size in the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis). Insectes Sociaux. 58: 139-144.
Schmidt, A.M., d'Ettorre, P. and Pedersen, J.S. (2010). Low levels of nestmate discrimination despite high genetic differentiation in the invasive pharaoh ant. Frontiers in Zoology. 7: 20.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: amschmidt@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-7344
Office: W-115A Millennium Science Complex
Research interests
I am very interested in evolutionary biology, in animal behaviour especially in the context of host-parasite interactions, and in population genetics. With a background in invasion biology of ants, I see social insects as great model organisms to address a diverse array of questions in evolutionary biology. I am currently working on ant-fungal interactions, investigating how pathogenic fungi affect the survival and behavioural responses of their social insect hosts.
