Robert S. Fritz

Professor of Biology on the Althea Ward Clark Chair

Office:Olmsted Hall of Biological Sciences, 222; Box 133

Phone: (845) 437-7418

Website:http://faculty.vassar.edu/fritz/

Email: Contact Robert S. Fritz

  • B.A. 1974 Biology , Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
  • M.S. 1978 Zoology, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY
  • Ph.D. 1982 Ecology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Research Interests

My research aims to understand the ecological genetics of plant resistance and tolerance. The major questions we address include: What is the genetic architecture of plant resistance and tolerance?, How do herbivores, pathogens, and abiotic factors influence in the evolution of resistance and tolerance?, How does genetic variation structure herbivore communities on host plants?, and What are the plant genetic influences on tritrophic interactions? We perform experiments on field plants, clones, and half-sib families of willows, but recently we have focused on using hybrids between two willow species (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) to investigate the genetics of resistance and tolerance.

Teaching Interests

I teach Ecology (Biol 241) and Plant-Animal Interactions (Biol 354). Ecology is a course with a field lab where we collect and analyze data. We take field trips to a black spruce bog, to the Mohonk Preserve, and to the Vassar College Ecological Preserve. Plant-Animal Interactions is conducted as a seminar where students read and discuss primary literature on such topics as the evolution of plant defenses, coevolution, mutualisms, and pollination biology. Along with teaching our introductory courses, I also have taught Environmental Science field trip courses (ENVI 254) to the Pacific Northwest and the Bahamas.

Selected Publications

  • Fritz, R. S., and C. G. Hochwender. 2003. Genetic architecture of susceptibility to herbivores in hybrid willows. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 16:1115-1126.
  • Hochwender, C. G. and R. S. Fritz. 2004. Plant genetic differences influence herbivore community structure: evidence from a hybrid willow system. Oecologia 138: 547-557.
  • Albrectsen, B. R., Gardfjell, H., Orians, C. M., Murray, B. and R. S. Fritz. 2004. Slugs, willow seedlings and nutrient fertilization: intrinsic vigor inversely affects palatability Oikos 105: 268-278.
  • Czesak, M. E., M. J. Knee, R. G. Gale, S. D. Bodach, and R. S. Fritz. 2004. Genetic architecture of resistance to aphids and mites in a hybrid system of willows. Heredity 93:619-626.
  • Fritz, R.S., and C.G. Hochwender. 2005. Cascading effects of plant genetic variation on herbivore communities. CAB International, Nosworthy Way, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8DE, UK.
  • Fritz, R. S., C. G. Hochwender, B. R. Albrectsen, and M. E. Czesak. 2006. Fitness and genetic architecture of parent and hybrid willows in common gardens. Evolution 60: 1215-1227.

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