Karen L. Bell

My research uses various methods in genetics and biogeography to address questions in community ecology, evolutionary biology, and plant-insect interactions. In my current postdoctoral position at Emory University, I am developing methods for DNA metabarcoding of pollen. This research is currently being applied primarily to forensic palynology, the use of pollen evidence for determining past geographic location of objects. In the future, I would like to use these methods to address questions in evolutionary biology and community ecology. I am particularly interested in plant-insect interactions, and plant-human interactions. Taxonomic groups, and study systems that I have a particular interest in include the boababs (Adansonia species) and their pollinators, the genus Acacia s.l. and their insect herbivores, and the Kimberley region of northwest Australia.