A5083286052- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Ion channel regulation and function
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
Virginia Tech
2024-2025
University of Michigan
2021-2024
Society of Actuaries
2022-2024
Universidad de Los Andes
2012-2021
University of Chicago
2014-2021
Universidad de Los Andes
2018
New Mexico State University
2005
Histoplasma capsulatum is a pathogenic fungus that causes life-threatening lung infections. About 500,000 people are exposed to H. each year in the United States, and over 60% of U.S. population has been at some point their life. We performed genome-wide genetics phylogenetic analyses with 30 isolates representing four recognized areas where histoplasmosis endemic show genus composed least species genetically isolated rarely interbreed. Therefore, we propose taxonomic rearrangement...
Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as "fieldwork." Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, interacting local communities at field sites, and collaborative led by one few the core team members. However, existing power imbalances stemming from geopolitical history, discrimination, professional position, among other factors, perpetuate...
Northwestern South America is among the most biodiverse, albeit unexplored, regions of world. The genus Andinobates made up 14 species, all distributed in (Colombia and Northern Ecuador), adjacent Panamá. Within last decade, five species this have been described. In paper we describe yet another belonging to fulguritus group, from Urabá region Colombia. new can be distinguished other members on basis a unique combination coloration, size, advertisement call parameters. Molecular phylogenetic...
We sequenced the genome of strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, at a depth 127.5× using variable insert size libraries. The total is estimated to be 6.76 Gb, which 4.76 Gb are from high copy number repetitive elements with low differentiation across copies. These repeats encompass DNA transposons, RNA and LTR retrotransposons, including least 0.4 1.0 Mariner/Tc1 Gypsy elements, respectively. Expression data indicate levels gypsy expression in ova O. pumilio compared Xenopus laevis....
TAS2Rs are a family of G protein-coupled receptors that function as bitter taste in vertebrates. Mammalian have historically garnered the most attention, leading to our understanding their roles perception relevant human physiology and behaviors. However, evolution functional implications other vertebrate lineages remain less explored. Here, we identify 9,291 from 661 genomes. Large-scale phylogenomic analyses reveal frogs salamanders contain unusually high TAS2R gene content, stark contrast...
Abstract Adaptive and neutral processes have produced a spectrum of genome sizes across organisms. Amphibians in particular possess wide range C-values, from <1 to over 125 pg. However, the size most amphibians is unknown, no single family has been comprehensively assessed. We provide new estimates for 32 poison frog species representing major lineages within Dendrobatidae using Feulgen staining museum specimens flow cytometry fresh tissue. show that likely evolved gradually, with...
Amphibians represent a diverse group of tetrapods, marked by deep divergence times between their three systematic orders and families. Studying amphibian biology through the genomics lens increases our understanding features this animal class that other terrestrial vertebrates. The need for genomic resources is more urgent than ever due to increasing threats group. are one most imperiled taxonomic groups, with approximately 41% species threatened extinction habitat loss, changes in land use...
Abstract The geographic distribution of phenotypic variation among closely related populations is a valuable source information about the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. Leapfrog distributions, in which phenotypically similar are disjunctly distributed separated by one or more distinct populations, represent replicates for existence phenotype, therefore especially informative. These patterns have mostly been studied from phylogenetic perspectives to understand...
Abstract Background Do species use codons that reduce the impact of errors in translation or replication? The genetic code is arranged a way minimizes errors, defined as sum differences amino-acid properties caused by single-base changes from each codon to other codon. However, extent which organisms optimize messages written this has been far less studied. We tested whether and usages 457 bacteria, 264 eukaryotes, 33 archaea minimize compared random usages, genome G+C content influence...
Abstract Aposematism is the use of warning signals to advertise unpleasant or dangerous defences potential predators. As effectiveness this strategy depends on predator learning, little variation expected in aposematic signals, as similar facilitate learning. However, are frequently variable species. Such variability could arise a result geographic interpretation that local predators give signals. We tested divergent learning hypothesis polytypic poison frog Andinobates bombetes (Anura:...
Toxicity is widespread among living organisms, and evolves as a multimodal phenotype. Part of this phenotype the ability to avoid self‐intoxication (autoresistance). Evolving toxin resistance can involve fitness tradeoffs, so autoresistance often expected evolve gradually in tandem with toxicity, resulting correlation between degrees toxicity toxic populations. We investigate Phyllobates poison frogs, notorious for secreting batrachotoxin (BTX), potent neurotoxin that targets sodium...
The salamander fauna of Colombia is very poorly known, probably because most research efforts have been devoted to anurans during the last two decades. Here, we describe new species genus Bolitoglossa (Eladinea) from eastern flank Eastern Colombian Andes (Cordillera Oriental), near border with Venezuela. tamaense sp. nov. distributed between 2000 2700 m.a.s.l. and leandrae in low-lands at about 600 m. are diagnosed by a combination molecular (16S rRNA sequences), coloration, body size,...
The poison frogs of the Colombian Andes, Pacific lowlands and Panamahave been recently recognized as a new, monophyletic well-supported genus: Andinobates. species richness distribution within Andinobates remain poorly understood due to paucity geographic, genetic phenotypic data. Here we use combination molecular, bioacoustic morphometric evidence describe new Andean frog: cassidyhornae sp. nov. from high elevation cloud forests Cordillera Occidental, in northwestern Andes. is associated...
The poison-dart frog Phyllobates terribilis is currently classified as endangered or critically due to its extremely restricted geographic distribution and intensive smuggling by pet traffickers. Based on molecular data, we here report two new localities representing a 60 km northward extension of previously recognized range. identity other populations in western Colombia discussed, well the current morphological criteria used distinguish P. similar bicolor .
Abstract Understanding the nutritional requirements of captive animals is necessary for proper animal husbandry, however, specific dietary many amphibian species commonly kept in captivity are unknown. Like most vertebrates, frogs cannot synthesize carotenoids and must therefore obtain these essential nutrients through diet. It unclear if amphibians can cleave provitamin A to form vitamin metabolically within body, so common practice supplement their diets with both preformed carotenoids. We...
Chemical defenses shape ecosystems by orchestrating interactions between species and promoting specialization on toxic prey. Many toxins exist in highly biodiverse tropical ecosystems, sometimes the same prey, imposing challenges for studying toxin resistance requiring development of new models. Royal ground snakes (Erythrolamprus) play a significant but understudied role as predators poisonous frogs (Bufonidae, Dendrobatidae). Several frog affect voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs)...
Abstract Adaptive and neutral processes have produced a spectrum of genome sizes across organisms. Amphibians in particular possess wide range C-values, from <1 pg to over 125 pg. However, the size most amphibians is unknown, no single family has been comprehensively assessed. We provide new estimates for 32 poison frog species representing major lineages within Dendrobatidae using Feulgen staining museum specimens flow cytometry fresh tissue. show that likely evolves under an...
Abstract Toxicity is widespread among living organisms, and evolves as a multimodal phenotype. Part of this phenotype the ability to avoid self-intoxication (autoresistance). Evolving toxin resistance can involve fitness tradeoffs, so autoresistance often expected evolve gradually in tandem with toxicity, resulting correlation between degrees toxicity toxic populations. We investigate Phyllobates poison frogs, notorious for secreting batrachotoxin (BTX), potent neurotoxin that targets sodium...
Abstract The geographic distribution of phenotypic variation among closely related populations is a valuable source information about the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain biodiversity. Leapfrog distributions, in which phenotypically similar are disjunctly distributed separated by one or more distinct populations, represent replicates for existence phenotype, therefore especially informative. These patterns have mostly been studied from phylogenetic perspectives to understand...
A new species of Andinobates (Dendrobatidae) is described from the East Andes Colombia, just 37 km away Colombian capital, Bogot. supata sp. nov., represents second known yellow Andinobates, and can be distinguished other, tolimensis, by an unique combination ventral dorsal color patterns. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on ≈ 1120 bp two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA cytochrome b) showed that this taxon sister to a clade formed A. cassidyhornae, bombetes, opisthomelas, tolimensis...