Judith Bronstein

Positions and Education: 

• University Distinguished Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2012-present
• Program Director, National Science Foundation, Division of Environmental Biology, 2007-2008
• Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2004-present
• Associate Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 1995-2004
• Assistant Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 1989-1995
• Isaak Walton Killam Postdoctoral Fellow, Evolutionary Ecology, University of Alberta, 1988
• NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, Evolutionary Genetics, Centre Louis Emberger (CNRS), Montpellier, France, 1987
• Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 1986
• M.Sc., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 1981
• A.B., Independent Studies, Brown University, 1979

Honors and Awards: 

• 2016, Elected Fellow of the Ecological Society of America
• 2013, Pillar of Excellence Award, University of Arizona Honors College
• 2012, Named University Distinguished Professor, University of Arizona
• 2008, Distinguished Service Award, National Science Foundation
• 2007, Distinguished Career Teaching Award, College of Science, University of Arizona
• 2006, Outstanding Faculty Award, Honors College, University of Arizona
• 2003, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society Hall of Fame Award, University of Arizona
• 2000, Distinguished Teaching Award, College of Science, University of Arizona

Editorial Work: 

• 2013-2017, Editor-in-Chief, The American Naturalist
• 2015-2017, Guest Editor, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics
• 2012-2016, Advisory Board, Oxford Bibliographies Online: Ecology
• 2010-2012, Editor, The American Naturalist
• 2011, Associate Editor, Oxford Bibliographies Online: Ecology
• 2009-2012, Editorial Board, Journal of Ecology
• 2004-2007, 2008-2010, Editorial Board, The American Naturalist
• 2003-2007, 2009-2010, Editorial Board, Oecologia
• 1995-2003, Editorial Board, Conservation Ecology

Research Interests: 

My research focuses on the ecology and evolution of interspecific interactions, particularly on the poorly-understood, mutually beneficial ones (mutualisms). Using a combination of field observations, experiments, and theory, we are examining how population processes, abiotic conditions, and the community context determine net effects of interactions for the fitness of each participant species. Specific conceptual areas of interest include: (i) conflicts of interest between mutualists and their consequences for the maintenance of beneficial outcomes; (ii) the causes and consequences of "cheating" within mutualism; (iii) context-dependent outcomes in both mutualisms and antagonisms; and (iv) anthropogenic threats to mutualisms. My recent empirical work has focused on exploited pollination mutualisms in deserts, desert grasslands, and montane habitats in Arizona and Colorado. More generally, I work towards developing a strong conceptual foundation for the very young study of mutualistic interactions.

Selected Publications: 

1. Barker, J.L, J.L. Bronstein, M.L. Friesen, E.I. Jones, H.K. Reeve, A.G. Zink, and M.E. Frederickson (2017). Synthesizing perspectives on the evolution of cooperation within and between species. Evolution doi:10.1111/evo.13174
2. Díaz-Muñoz, S., A. Boddy, G. Dantas, C. Waters, and J. L. Bronstein (2016). Contextual organismality: Beyond pattern to process in the emergence of organisms. Evolution doi:10.1111/evo.13078
3. Bronstein, J.L. editor. (2015) Mutualism. Oxford University Press, NY.
4. Rafferty, N.E, P.J. CaraDonna, and J.L. Bronstein (2015). Phenological shifts  and the fate of mutualisms. Oikos 124:14-21.
5. Chamberlain, S.C., J. Rudgers, and J.L. Bronstein (2014). How context-dependent are species interactions? Ecology Letters 17: 881-890.