Carla J. Essenberg
Assistant Professor of Biology
Associations
Biology
Carnegie Science Hall, Room 411
Environmental Studies
About
Plant ecology and plant-animal interactions
My research focuses on pollination ecology. I am particularly interested in how plants manipulate pollinator behavior and ways in which pollinator behavior in turn influences plant ecology and evolution. I am also happy to advise thesis projects related to pollinator conservation, including community-engaged projects.
My courses include Biostatistics, Conservation Biology, and the Ecology and Evolution of Mutualisms.
Selected Publications
“*” indicates Bates undergraduate co-authors.
Essenberg, C. J., P. E. Guevarra*, H. M. Moreau*, and C. J. Jordan*, and T. Zisman*. 2019. A benefit to providing information? Flower size cues, plant attractiveness, and plant visit length. Behavioral Ecology 30(4): 1168-1175.
Link to abstract: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.s6tj198
Katz*, E. J., and C. J. Essenberg. 2018. The effect of the dispersion of rewarding and rewardless flowers on visitation and constancy by bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). Journal of Pollination Ecology 23(13): 119-126.
Link to abstract: https://www.pollinationecology.org/index.php?journal=jpe&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=452
Essenberg, C. J., R. A. Easter, R. A. Simmons, and D. R. Papaj. 2015. The value of information in floral cues: bumblebee learning of floral size cues. Behavioral Ecology. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arv061. <link to article>
Essenberg, C. J. 2013. Scale-dependent shifts in the species composition of flower visitors with changing floral density. Oecologia 171:187-196. <Abstract>
Essenberg, C. J. 2012. Explaining variation in the effect of floral density on pollinator visitation. American Naturalist 180:153-166.