Emilie Gray

Assistant Professor

Research Interests

physiological ecology of animals

insect adaptations to extreme environments

mosquito biology and ecology

populations and climate change

How does the physiological make-up of individuals and populations set their geographic distribution, and how can this make-up be modified via acclimation and adaptation? Why are some populations more successful than others at dealing with climate change? I'm working to address these questions and others using mosquitoes. Over 3000 species occur worldwide, 200 of which are in the US, and many of these transmit diseases important to humans and other animals. Furthermore, species vary widely in terms of their ecology and life history. These factors make mosquitoes particularly attractive study organisms for exploring the physiology of climate change.

Activities & Interests

I love to travel, grow plants, raise chickens, make cheese and drink good wine. And hike and bike and camp and walk dogs. And catch mosquitoes. And ride motorcycles. And the list goes on.

Publications

Vorhees, A.S., E.M. Gray and T.J. Bradley, 2013. Thermal resistance and performance correlate with climate in populations of a widespread mosquito. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 86(1): 73-81.

Fouet, C., E.M. Gray, N.J. Besansky and C. Costantini, 2012. Adaptation to aridity in the Malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae: chromosomal inversion polymorphism and body size influence resistance to desiccation. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34841.

Gray, E.M., K.A.C. Rocca, C. Costantini and N.J. Besansky, 2009. Inversion 2La is associated with enhanced desiccation resistance in Anopheles gambiae. Malaria J 8: 215.

Rocca, K.A.C., E.M. Gray, C. Costantini and N.J. Besansky, 2009. 2La chromosomal inversion enhances thermal tolerance of Anopheles gambiae larvae. Malaria J 8: 147.

Gray, E.M., and S.L. Chown, 2008. Bias, precision and accuracy in the estimation of cuticular and respiratory water loss: a case study from a highly variable cockroach, Perisphaeria sp.. J Insect Physiol 54(1): 169-179.

Gray, E.M., and T.J. Bradley, 2006. Evidence from mosquitoes suggests that cyclic gas exchange and discontinuous gas exchange are two manifestations of a single respiratory pattern. J Exp Biol 207: 1603-1611.

Gray, E.M., and T.J. Bradley, 2006. Malarial infection in Aedes aegypti: effects on feeding, fecundity and metabolic rate. Parasitology 132: 1-8.

Gray, E.M., and T.J. Bradley, 2005. Physiology of desiccation resistance in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73(3): 553-559.

Gray, E.M., and T.J. Bradley. 2003. Metabolic rate in female Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae): Age, Size, Activity and Feeding Effects. J Med Entomol 40(6): 903-911.

Gray, E.M. 1999. Urban pollution of the Ebrié lagoon, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Masters Thesis, unpublished (French).