2025 Internship Project Overview

Our project focused on understanding the competitive ecology of four drosophilid fly species—Drosophila melanogaster, D. hydei, D. simulans and Zaprionus indianus—by studying both larval growth rates and density-dependent competition. To gather data on larval growth (an important variable that affects competitive ability), we collected fly eggs, froze larvae at 24-hour intervals and measured them using a microscope and imaging software. We also conducted intra- and interspecific larval competition trials at varying densities (such as putting 10 D. melanogaster vs. 100 D. hydei eggs in a vial to compete) to estimate competition curves and fit them to theoretical models. Both the larval growth and competition data were analyzed and curve-fitted with R. Through this work, we were able to identify the models of competition as well as baseline growth rates across these species, giving us insight into the ecological dynamics between these drosophilids and providing vital data for the larger project.

This internship is connected to the HMEI Biodiversity Grand Challenges project, “The Maintenance of Species Diversity through the Rapid Evolution of Competitive Ability.”

ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP

Levine Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

LOCATION

Princeton, New Jersey

 

Interns

Philip Kent Eichelzer IV ’27
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
"I learned a lot about fruit flies—their lifecycle, preferred habitat, how to tell different species apart, and more. I learned how to use R studio for data visualization and gained important lab skills like consistent processes. I found data visualization the most interesting."
Sankalp Gautam ’28
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Minor(s): Linguistics
"One of the most interesting aspects of this research was learning how ecology and evolution co-occur on similar timescales, and how to ground that emerging theory into experimental work. This internship motivated me to continue working with the lab and fueled my aspirations for a postgraduate degree."

Click to view the end-of-project presentation

 

Jonathan Levine
J.N. Allison Professor in Environmental Studies, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Mentors

  • Jamie Leonard, Ph.D. Candidate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology