Dr. Aramee Diethelm is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis in the Department of Evolution and Ecology.
She earned her PhD from the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology department at the University of Nevada, Reno in Dr. Elizabeth Pringle’s lab. Her doctoral thesis is titled: 'From plants to predators: investigating the phytochemical landscape from the herbivore's perspective.'
Aramee is broadly interested in plant-insect-predator dynamics, with a focus on chemical ecology and conservation biology.
MY LATEST RESEARCH
I currently lead a multi-institutional project with academic, federal, and NGO partners to study western monarch (Danaus plexippus) breeding phenology and habitat use across Department of Defense lands and nearby wildlife refuges. My research examines how seasonal and spatial variation in breeding activity, milkweed availability, and vegetation structure shape patterns of habitat use, with the goal of helping land managers prioritize conservation efforts while balancing other land-use demands.
Previously, during my PhD at the University of Nevada, Reno, I investigated the phytochemical landscape of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) in the Great Basin and how variation in plant chemistry and traits influenced monarch oviposition behavior, larval development, and interactions with predators. This work included large-scale field surveys, common garden experiments, and manipulative studies to understand how plant traits respond to environmental stressors such as drought and herbivory.