Anthony Ragnar Ives

Dr. Anthony R. Ives is Professor of Zoology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ives is a theoretical ecologist who also does experimental fieldwork researching diverse subjects including aphid pests in alfalfa, lake plankton, and lake-land interactions in order to generate insight into both theoretical and applied processes. Ives is known for his application of rigorous statistical methodology to elucidate both ecological and evolutionary patterns, from phylogenetic analyses to the stability and diversity of ecosystems, thereby integrating deep theory and sound empirical work. His graduate students and postdocs represent the gamut from pure theoreticians to pure empiricists, making for research full of dynamic interactions that left its mark on the field. His work also fosters collaborations throughout the world, as the tools of theoretical ecology and population genetics can be applied to diverse ecological problems. His lab is currently conducting research around four main subject areas: (1) multi-species interactions and environmental fluctuations; (2) population dynamics of insect predator-prey systems; (3) phylogenetic patterns in comparison among species and communities; (4) theory, statistics, and complex population dynamics. Ives is also currently working with several other researchers to pilot a citizen science project that will collect aphids from across the country and assay them for symbiotic bacteria. Ives has received numerous awards for his work, including the MacArthur Award of the Ecological Society of America and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is currently the Steenbock Professor of Biological Sciences. His publications appear in Ecology, Evolution, Nature, Systematic Biology, and Science.