Robert Denno
Encyclopedia
Robert F. Denno was an influential scientist in the field of entomology
, specifically a lepidopterist
. He wrote more than 130 research papers and his personal worldwide collection of butterflies
numbered over 36,000 specimens.
He was a world-renowned authority on the ecology
of sap-feeding insects, both in natural and cultivated settings. His study of wing polymorphism
expanded into the fields of life history evolution (e.g., Denno and Dingle 1981), plant and herbivore interactions (e.g., Denno and McClure 1983), community ecology (e.g., Denno et al. 1996), and many aspects of predator ecology, reviewed recently in Denno et al. (2005).
He was Assistant Professor at Rutgers University
from 1974 to 1976, moving to the University of Maryland in 1976, advancing to Associate Professor in 1979 and Professor in 1985 in the Entomology Department.
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
, specifically a lepidopterist
Lepidopterist
A lepidopterist is a person who specialises in the study of Lepidoptera, members of an order encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
. He wrote more than 130 research papers and his personal worldwide collection of butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
numbered over 36,000 specimens.
He was a world-renowned authority on the ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
of sap-feeding insects, both in natural and cultivated settings. His study of wing polymorphism
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
expanded into the fields of life history evolution (e.g., Denno and Dingle 1981), plant and herbivore interactions (e.g., Denno and McClure 1983), community ecology (e.g., Denno et al. 1996), and many aspects of predator ecology, reviewed recently in Denno et al. (2005).
He was Assistant Professor at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
from 1974 to 1976, moving to the University of Maryland in 1976, advancing to Associate Professor in 1979 and Professor in 1985 in the Entomology Department.
Publications
- Denno R. F. 1975. "Wing polymorphism in salt marsh inhabiting Fulgoroidea". Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 83: 253–254.
- Denno R. F., Dingle H., editors 1981. Insect life history patterns: habitat and geographic variation. Springer-Verlag. New York, New York, USA.
- Denno R. F., Fagan W. F. 2003. "Might nitrogen limitation promote omnivory among carnivorous arthropods". Ecology. 84: 2522–2531.
- Denno R. F., McClure M. S., editors 1983. Variable plants and herbivores in natural and managed systems. Academic PressAcademic PressAcademic Press is an academic book publisher. Originally independent, it was acquired by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1969. Reed Elsevier bought Harcourt in 2000, and Academic Press is now an imprint of Elsevier....
. New York, New York, USA. - Denno R. F., Perfect T. J., editors 1994. Planthoppers: their ecology and management. Chapman and Hall. New York, New York, USA.
- Denno R. F., Roderick G. K. 1990. "Population biology of planthoppers". Annual Review of Entomology. 35: 489–520. Find this article online
- Denno R. F., Finke D. L., Langellotto G. A., 2005. "Direct and indirect effects of vegetation structure and habitat complexity on predator–prey and predator–predator interactions". Pages 211–239 in Barbosa P., Castellanos I., editors Ecology of predator–prey interactions. Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. New York, New York, USA. - Denno R. F., McClure M. S., Ott J. R. 1995. "Interspecific interactions in phytophagous insects: competition revisited and resurrected". Annual Review of Entomology. 40: 297–331.
- Huberty A. F., Denno R. F. 2004. "Plant water stress and its consequences for herbivorous insects: a new synthesis". Ecology. 85: 1383–1398.
External links
- University of Maryland Page on Robert Denno
- Obituary, Ecological Society of America