College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Entomology

Szucs Lab website

See a list of Marianna Szűcs' publications on Google Scholar.

Bio

My lab focuses on developing, implementing and monitoring biological control of invasive weed and insect pests. My research integrates contemporary ecological and evolutionary theory with the aim to increase the success and safety of biological control programs by better understanding how to collect, rear and release biological control agents to maximize their establishment success, population growth, and potential to adapt and spread in novel environments. Experimental approaches in the lab range from laboratory and greenhouse studies to large scale common garden and field experiments, and molecular methods. 

Current assignment: Research 60% | Teaching 25% | Extension 15%

Program Description

Teaching

I want students to succeed in my classes and enjoy the learning process. I promote and appreciate critical thinking and encourage students to speak up and actively engage in the class room. I thrive to present and discuss the latest research, novel concepts and ideas in ecology and evolution as they relate to biological control and invasive species management. I teach a course on biological control in odd spring semesters alternating in even years with a seminar course on eco-evolutionary dynamics in insect and plant populations.

Research

Biological control is one of the only long-term solutions to problems with invasive species and crop pests, and thus it is crucial to understand the processes that lead to success or failure. We study the role of rapid evolutionary processes and reciprocal interactions between ecology and evolution in biological control agents and their targets. Research areas of particular interest include: the effects of hybridization on fitness, efficacy and host-specificity of biological control agents; the importance of genetic diversity and its interaction with demography in mediating agent and pest establishment and persistence; and the mechanisms that enable biological control agents and pests to adapt to novel environments.

Extension

I provide leadership in implementing new biological control programs across Michigan and expert advice to growers, natural area managers, landowners and the general public on best practices to release, redistribute and monitor agents.

Concentrations

• Biological control
• Insect-plant interactions
• Eco-evolutionary dynamics

Professional experience

• 2018-present – Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
• 2014-2017 – Research Scientist, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University
• 2011-2014 –Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University
• 2005-2010 – Graduate student, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho

Selected publications

• Jarrett B. J. M., J. Pote, E. Talamas, L. Gut and M. Szűcs. 2019. The discovery of Trissolcus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in Michigan. The Great Lakes Entomologist. 52:6-11
• Szűcs M, E. Vercken, E. Bitume and RA Hufbauer. 2019. The implications of rapid eco-evolutionary dynamics for biological control – a review. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 167:598-615
• Szűcs M, P Salerno, B Teller, U Schaffner, J Littlefield and RA Hufbauer. 2019. The effects of agent hybridization on the efficacy of biological control of tansy ragwort at high elevations. Evolutionary Applications 12 (3): 470-481 doi.org/10.1111/eva.12726
• Szűcs M^†, M Vahsen^†, C Hoover, C Weiss-Lehman, and BA Melbourne, RA Hufbauer. 2017. Rapid adaptive evolution in novel environments acts as an architect of population range expansion. PNAS. 114 (51): 13501-13506. ^†Co-first authors
• Stewart GS*, MR Morris*, AB Genis*, M Szűcs, BA Melbourne, SJ Tavener, and RA Hufbauer. 2017. The power of evolutionary rescue is constrained by genetic load. Evolutionary Applications. 10 (7): 731- 741 *Undergraduate co-authors
• Szűcs M, BA Melbourne, T Tuff, C Weiss-Lehman, and RA Hufbauer. 2017. Genetic and demographic founder effects have long-term fitness consequences for colonising populations. Ecology Letters. 20 (4):436-444
• Hufbauer RA, M Szűcs, E Kasyon*, C Youngberg*, M Koontz, C Richards, T Tuff, BA Melbourne. 2015. Reply to Wootton and Pfister: The search for general context should include synthesis with laboratory model systems. PNAS. 112: E5904 *Undergraduate co-authors
• Hufbauer RA, M Szűcs, E Kasyon*, C Youngberg*, M Koontz, C Richards, T Tuff, BA Melbourne. 2015. Three types of rescue can avert extinction in a changing environment. PNAS. 112:10557-10562 *Undergraduate co-authors
• Szűcs M, BA Melbourne, T Tuff, and RA Hufbauer. 2014. The roles of demography and genetics in the early stages of colonization. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences. 281. 20141073
• Szűcs M, U Schaffner, WJ Price and M Schwarzländer. 2012. Post-introduction evolution in the biological control agent Longitarsus jacobaeae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Evolutionary Applications 5: 858-868
• Szűcs M, SD Eigenbrode, M Schwarzländer, and U Schaffner. 2012. Hybrid vigor in the biological control agent, Longitarsus jacobaeae. Evolutionary Applications 5: 489-497
• Szűcs M, M Schwarzländer, and JF Gaskin. 2011.  Reevaluating establishment and potential hybridization of different biotypes of the biological control agent Longitarsus jacobaeae using molecular tools. Biological Control 58: 44-52
• Marsico TD, JW Burt, EK Espeland, G Gilchrist, MA Jamieson, L Lindström, S Swope, G Roderick, M Szűcs, and N Tsutsui. 2010. Underutilized resources for studying the evolution of invasive species during their introduction, establishment, and lag phases. Evolutionary Applications. 3: 203-219.