Event Date
Speaker: Jenna Hulke
Speaker Title: Postdoctoral Scientist
Speaker Home Institution/Affiliation: Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Speaker Bio: My research investigates how reproductive strategies, life-history evolution, and genetic relatedness shape the ecology and evolution of helminth parasites, particularly in the context of life-cycle evolution and host-parasite interactions. My PhD research focused on the evolution of complex life cycles by examining how life cycles variation influences parasite mating systems, kin-transmission, and inbreeding. In my postdoctoral work, I utilize three Schistosoma (trematode) species to conduct experimental infections to examine fitness dynamics associated with hybridization and kin recognition. One major focus of my postdoctoral research is the hybridization between Schistosoma haematobium, a human parasite, and Schistosoma bovis, a cattle parasite. While hybrids of these two species have been widely reported in nature, recent genomic work indicates that contemporary hybridization is limited and provides evidence primarily for ancient introgression. By conducting experimental crosses, I aim to test for both pre- and postzygotic reproductive barriers and examine genes associated with host-specificity. In parallel, I utilize the species Schistosoma mansoni to test if phenotypic variation in reproductive structures (i.e., testes number) is influenced by kin density or sperm competition within a host, and whether this phenotype confers a fitness advantage.
Seminar Title: Causes and Consequences of doing it with oneself: our current understanding of neodermatan hermaphroditic mating systems
About the Series
The Animal Behavior Seminar Series brings leading researchers to UC Davis to share insights into the study of animal behavior across diverse systems and approaches. Hosted by the Animal Behavior Graduate Group, the series fosters interdisciplinary discussion around the evolutionary, ecological, and mechanistic foundations of behavior.