Keywords

  • chemical ecology of insect-plant interactions
  • foraging behavior
  • insect olfaction
  • phylogenetic mapping
  • plant volatile analysis
  • pollination ecology
  • signal evolution

Raguso, Robert A.

Associate Professor

research

research and scholarship focus

My research is organized around basic questions in plant-pollinator communication. We use olfactory and behavioral methods to study insect responses to floral odors. We also use appropriate analytical methods to measure odor, floral CO2, humidity gradients and spectral reflectance of flowers, so as to better understand and model the sensory information available to pollinators.

affiliations

faculty appointment in

member of graduate field

teaching

teaching focus

My broad background in the biological sciences has provided me with the experience necessary to teach several kinds of courses (Ecology, Physiology, Behavior and Genetics). Since moving to Cornell in July 2007, I have taught a number of lectures in BioNB 221 and BioNB 369, primarily focused on signal evolution, mimicry and deception, mutualism and pollination. I will co-develop, with Andre Kessler, a new course in plant behavior.

recent courses taught

Introduction to Behavior (BioNB 221)

Chemical Ecology (BioNB 369)

service

outreach focus

My outreach activities include instruction of volunteers at field research sites and associated national parks, informal meetings with student groups on campus, visits to elementary schools and presentations at outdoor educational facilities and museums. I have taught several workshops on plant volatile analysis both in my own laboratory and as a visitor to other countries.

event host

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

Raguso, R.A., T. Ojeda-Avila, S. Desai, M.K. Jurkiewicz, H.A. Woods. 2007. The influence of larval diet on adult feeding behaviour in the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta. Journal of Insect Physiology 53: 923-932.

Goyret, J., P.M. Markwell, R.A. Raguso. 2007. The effect of olfactory and visual stimuli decoupling on the foraging behavior of Manduca sexta. Journal of Experimental Biology 210: 1398-1405.

Goodrich, K.R., M.L. Zjhra, C.A. Ley, R.A. Raguso. 2006. When flowers smell fermented: the chemistry and ontogeny of yeasty floral scent in pawpaw (Asimina triloba: Annonaceae). International Journal of Plant Science 167: 33-46.

Svensson, G.P., M.O. Hickman, S. Bartram, W. Boland, O. Pellmyr, R.A. Raguso. 2005. Chemistry and geographic variation of floral scent in Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae). American Journal of Botany 92: 1624-1631.

Ashman, T.L., M. Bradburn, D.H. Cole, B.H. Blaney, R.A. Raguso. 2005. The scent of a male: the role of floral volatiles in pollination of a gender dimorphic plant. Ecology 86: 2099-2105.

Raguso, R.A., M.A. Willis. 2005. Synergy between visual and olfactory cues in nectar feeding by wild hawkmoths. Animal Behaviour 65: 407-418.

Raguso, R.A. 2004. Flowers as sensory billboards: progress towards an integrated understanding of floral advertisement. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 7: 434-440.

Raguso. R.A. 2004. Why are some floral nectars scented? Ecology 85: 1486-1494.

contact

email address

rar229@cornell.edu
Keywords: chemical ecology of insect-plant interactions, foraging behavior, insect olfaction, phylogenetic mapping, plant volatile analysis, pollination ecology, signal evolution