INTRODUCTION
Conference Presentations
Seminar, USDA ARS, Stoneville Mississippi, May 19, 2008: A Sperm “Shell” Game: Highlights from the female reproductive system of Anastrepha suspensa, (Diptera: Tephritidae)
9th Annual Phi Sigma Research Symposium, Illinois State University, April 18, 2008 A novel method for sperm DNA analysis and quantification in the tephritid fly, Anastrepha suspensa (co-author with Preeti Dhakal)
Illinois State Academy of Science, UIUC, Urbana, IL April 4-5, 2008 A novel method for sperm DNA analysis and quantification in the tephritid fly, Anastrepha suspensa (co-author with Preeti Dhakal)
Seminar, Illinois State University, Department of Biology, Nov. 16, 2006: Sperm shell game: a case study in the fly, Anastrepha suspensa.
Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, Dec 10-13, 2006: Isolating and genotyping stored sperm in femela Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with S.A. Tadel,and G.N. Fritz)
Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, Dec 10-13, 2006: Microsatellite variability for different Florida populations of Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with S.A. Tadel)
NCB Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Bloomington, IL March 26-29, 2006: Do MaleAnastrepha suspensa influence Female Sperm Storage Patterns?
Illinois State Academy of Science, UIC, Chicago IL April 20-22, 2006. Concentration And Types of Bacteria Present in the Pupae and adults of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with K. Doyle, V. Norman & S. Daniel)
ScienceFest, College of Sciences, EIU, March 31, 2006 Comparing Microsatellites Genetic Variability in Mass-reared Versus Wild Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with S.A. Tadel)
NCB Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Bloomington, IL March 26-29, 2006: Concentration And Types of Bacteria Present in the Pupae and adults of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with K. Doyle, V. Norman & S. Daniel)
NCB Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Bloomington, IL March 26-29, 2006: Comparing Microsatellites Genetic Variability in Mass-reared Versus Wild Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with S.A. Tadel)
17th Annual Illinois Student Research Conference, Charleston, IL March 24-25, 2006: Concentration And Types of Bacteria Present in the Pupae and adults of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Co-author with K. Doyle, V. Norman & S. Daniel)
17th Annual Illinois Student Research Conference, Charleston, IL March 24-25, 2006: Comparing Microsatellites Genetic Variability in Mass-reared Versus Wild Anastrepha suspensa
Publications
Fritz, A.H. The effect of female decapitation on sperm storage patterns patterns in the Caribbean Fruit Fly,Anastrepha suspensa. Journal of Insect Behavior –Accepted for Publication Fritz, A. H.
2006 Sequence analysis of the nuclear rDNA of the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 99: 369-373.
Research & Creative Interests
Ann Fritz’s research is in behavioral ecology, particularly of insects. Ann’s lab is currently investigating reproductive biology, population dynamics and genetic introgression. Dr. Fritz’s research is currently melding behavior, morphology, and molecular methods to address hypotheses on the dynamics of sperm storage and use in female insects affecting paternity outcomes. Insects are ideal study subjects since there is often a temporal separation between insemination and fertilization allowing greater potential for female manipulation of sperm. Female control over fertilization outcomes adds a new dimension to understanding the evolutionary conflict between the sexes, thus changing our views on the degree to which females influence male reproductive success. Dr. Fritz also has collaborative projects on microbial constituents of the gut and reproductive tracts of flies, and with institutions in Brazil and Bolivia on the population biology/genetics of fruit flies of economic importance.