Nathaniel Neal

PhD Student

My research concerns freshwater mussels, namely their use of mimicry to lure and parasitize host fishes. I am particularly interested in the genetic basis of the mimic structures and potential drivers of polymorphic phenotypes in the wavy-rayed lampmussel. As specialist mussel species may compete for hosts as a limiting resource, mimicry lures can address key evolutionary and ecological questions related to these taxa. I am jointly advised by Dr. Jingchun Li and Dr. Scott Taylor.