Publications & Manuscripts
Gutiérrez-García, K.*, Whitaker, M.R.L.*, E.D. Bustos-Díaz, S. Salzman, H.E. Ramos-Aboites, Z.L. Reitz, N.E. Pierce, A. Cibrián-Jaramillo, F. Barona-Gómez. Specialized metabolic convergence in the gut microbiomes of cycad-feeding insects tolerant to β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). In Review at ISME. *Co-first authors. Preprint on BioRxiv.
Whitaker, M.R.L., S.A. Banack, M.C. Mescher, P.A. Cox, C.M. De Moraes. BMAA in cycad-feeding Lepidoptera: defensive sequestration or bioaccumulation? In Review at Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution. Invited contribution to special issue: Women in Chemical Ecology
Whitaker, M.R.L., F. Gilliéron, C. Skirgaila, M.C. Mescher, C.M. De Moraes. 2022. Experimental evidence challenges the presumed defensive function of a “slow toxin” in cycads. Scientific Reports 12: 6013.
Valencia-Montoya, W.A, Quental, T.B., Tonini, J.F.R., Lamas, G., Talavera, G., Crall, J.D., Liénard, M.A., Salzman, S., Whitaker, M.R.L., Busby, R.C., Kawahara, A.Y., Lohman, D.J., Robbins, R.K., N.E. Pierce. 2021. Evolutionary tradeoffs between male secondary sexual traits revealed by a phylogeny of the hyperdiverse tribe Eumaeini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Proceedings of the Royal Society B 288: 20202512. PDF
Liénard, M.A., G.D. Bernard, A.A. Allena, J. Lassance, S. Song, R. Childers, N. Yu, D. Yeb, A. Stephenson, W. Valencia-Montoya, S. Salzman, M.R.L. Whitaker, M. Calonje, F. Zhanga, N.E. Pierce. 2021. The evolution of red colour vision is linked to coordinated rhodopsin tuning in lycaenid butterflies. PNAS 118(6): e2008986118. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L., S.S. Salzman. 2020. Ecology and evolution of cycad-feeding Lepidoptera. Ecology Letters 23: 1862-1877. Cover article. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L., S.S. Salzman, X. Gratacos, J. Tucker Lima. 2020. Localized overabundance of an otherwise rare butterfly threatens endangered cycads. Florida Entomologist 103(4):519-522. Cover Article. PDF
Molleman, F., J. Javoiš, R. Davis, M.R.L. Whitaker, T. Tammaru, A. Prinzing, E. Õunap, N. Wahlberg, U. Kodandaramaiah, K. Aduse-Poku, A. Kaasik, J. Carey. 2020. Quantifying the effects of species traits on predation risk in nature: a comparative study of butterfly wing damage. Journal of Animal Ecology 89:716–729. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L, S.S. Salzman, C. Baker, D.J. Martins, N.E. Pierce. 2019. Combining stable isotope analysis with DNA metabarcoding improves inferences of trophic ecology. PLOS ONE 14(7): e0219070. PDF (Featured in Ecology: Concepts and Applications (9th Ed.))
Szenteczki, M., C. Pitteloud, L.P. Casacci, L. Kešnerová, M. Whitaker, P. Engel, R. Vila, A. Nadir. 2019. Bacterial communities within Phengaris (Maculinea) alcon caterpillars are shifted following transition from solitary living to social parasitism of Myrmica ant colonies. Ecology and Evolution 9(8): 4452-4464. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L., B.J. Stolzmann. 2019. Species Interactions and Ants. Frontiers for Young Minds. 7:53. PDF
Salzman, S.S, M.R.L Whitaker, N.E. Pierce. 2018. Cycad-feeding insects share a gut microbiome. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 123(4):728-38. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L, S.S. Salzman, J.G. Sanders, M. Kaltenpoth, N.E. Pierce. 2016. Microbial communities of lycaenid butterflies do not correlate with larval diet. Frontiers in Microbiology 7: 1920. Special Topic: “Experimental models in animal associated microbiota.” Invited Contribution. PDF
Whitaker, M.R., A.J. Jiron, B. Maass. 2014. Developing mobile tools for biodiversity informatics and natural history education. Journal of Natural History Education and Experience 8. Invited Contribution. PDF
Whitaker, M.R., N. Katayama, T. Ohgushi. 2014. Plant-rhizobia interactions alter the quality of aphid honeydew. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 8(3): 213-220. PDF
Whitaker, M.R.L., E.C. Long. 2014. Survey of the Butterflies of the Sutter Buttes, California. The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 47:1-10. PDF
Molleman, F., A. Kaasik, M.R. Whitaker, J.R. Carey. 2012. Partitioning variation in duration of ant feeding bouts can offer insights into the palatability of insects: experiments on African fruit-feeding butterflies. The Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 45: 65-75. PDF
Molleman, F., M.R. Whitaker, J.R Carey. 2010. Rating palatability of butterflies using the duration of feeding bouts of ants. Entomologishe Berichten 70(2): 52-62. PDF