I am interested the interactions among species (be they emus and seeds, humans and forehead mites, wolves and tapeworms or ants and other ants) and the diverse consequences of those interactions. At the heart of the research in the lab is an approach that combines field experiments with large scale observational studies of the distribution of species, traits, and interactions.Mystery still lurks around ordinary corners. If you are interested in becomming involved in the lab, contact R. Dunn at Rob_Dunn "@" ncsu.edu.

Every Living Thing

From the cover...

Biologists and laypeople alike have repeatedly claimed victory over life. A thousand years ago we thought we knew almost everything; a hundred years ago, too. But even today, Rob Dunn argues, discoveries we can't yet imagine still await. In a series of vivid portraits of single-minded scientists, Dunn traces the history of human discovery, from the establishment of classification in the eighteenth century to today's attempts to find life in space. The narrative telescopes from a scientist's attempt to find one single thing (a rare ant-emulating beetle species) to another scientist's attempt to find everything in a small patch of jungle in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. With poetry and humor, Dunn reminds readers how tough and exhilarating it is to study the natural world, and why it matters (more about the book).

"If you have any interest in life beyond your own, you should read this book...Between the covers of EVERY LIVING THING you’ll learn both about life’s amazing diversity and that process of their discovery. Savor this fascinating volume and then help to preserve life’s wonders."

— PAUL R. EHRLICH, AUTHOR OF THE DOMINANT ANIMAL: HUMAN EVOLUTION AND THE ENVIRONMENT