Dr. Jiri Hulcr, Assistant Professor
Forest Entomology
PO Box 110410,
Gainesville, FL 32611-0410
Jiri joined the School in 2012 as our resident Forest Entomologist.
“I study the ambrosia symbiotic complex – beetles, fungi, bacteria. I address the most fundamental questions about the evolutionary origin of this fungus-farming symbiosis, and the chemistry that makes it function, but also how the tree-killing symbiosis is impacting trees, forests, and people.”
Current Projects:
- I have developed a set of molecular approaches to explore the communities of ambrosia fungi and bacteria using the 454 next generation sequencing.
- I maintain a cryo-preserved collection of ambrosia beetles, their fungal and bacterial symbionts, and other ecologically or phylogenetically relevant fungi (over 100,000 samples).
- Developing on-line interactive resources for wood boring beetles: www.ambrosiasymbiosis.org/resources
- I provide forest pest diagnostics and management recommendations: http://sfrc.ufl.edu/forestinsects/index.shtml
Degrees:
PhD, Michigan State University, 2009
PhD, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, 2008