A5029144788- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Marine animal studies overview
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
National Zoological Park
2016-2025
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
2016-2025
Conservation Biology Institute
2019-2025
Smithsonian Institution
2012-2024
Royal Hospital for Women
2023
Michigan State University
2017
University of New Hampshire
2017
Bucknell University
2017
The University of Adelaide
2017
University of Maryland, College Park
2002-2012
Microsatellite loci are highly informative genetic markers useful for population studies, linkage mapping and parentage determination. Methods to identify novel microsatellite commonly use subtractive hybridization enrich small-insert genomic libraries repeat sequences. A critical step in enrichment is attachment of an oligonucleotide linker DNA fragments so that repeat-containing sequences can be recovered by PCR cloning. Current linkers ligation methods rely on single restriction enzymes...
The spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza into Asia, Europe, and Africa has resulted in enormous impacts on the poultry industry presents an important threat to human health. pathways by which virus will between countries have been debated extensively, but yet be analyzed comprehensively quantitatively. We integrated data phylogenetic relationships isolates, migratory bird movements, trade wild birds determine pathway for 52 individual introduction events predict future spread....
The Hawaiian Islands form as the Pacific Plate moves over a ‘hot spot’ in earth’s mantle where magma extrudes through crust to build huge shield volcanos. islands subside and erode plate carries them north‐west, eventually become coral atolls seamounts. Thus are ordered linearly by age, with oldest north‐west (e.g. Kauai at 5.1 Ma) youngest south‐east Hawaii 0.43 Ma). K–Ar estimates of date an island’s formation provide maximum age for taxa inhabiting island. These ages can be used calibrate...
In the Old World, some mosquitoes in Culex pipiens complex are excellent enzootic vectors of West Nile virus, circulating virus among birds, whereas others bite mainly humans and other mammals. Here we show that, northern Europe, such forms differing behavior physiology have unique microsatellite fingerprints with no evidence gene flow between them, as would be expected from distinct species. United States, however, hybrids these ubiquitous. Such human-biters bird-biters may bridge...
Abstract Adaptive radiation plays a fundamental role in our understanding of the evolutionary process. However, concept has provoked strong and differing opinions concerning its definition nature among researchers studying wide diversity systems. Here, we take broad view what constitutes an adaptive radiation, seek to find commonalities disparate examples, ranging from plants invertebrate vertebrate animals, remote islands lakes continents, better understand processes shared across...
Transpositions of mtDNA sequences to the nuclear genome have been documented in a wide variety individual taxa, but little is known about their taxonomic frequency or patterns variation. We provide evidence homologous control region seven species diving ducks (tribe Aythyini). Phylogenetic analysis places each sequence as close relative haplotypes specie(s) which it occurs, indicating that they derive from six independent transposition events, all occurring within last ≈1.5 million years....
The introduction of avian malaria ( Plasmodium relictum ) to Hawaii has provided a model system for studying the influence exotic disease on naive host populations. Little is known, however, about origin or genetic variation Hawaii's and traditional classification methods have confounded attempts place parasite within global ecological evolutionary context. Using fragments mitochondrial gene cytochrome b nuclear dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase obtained from survey greater than...
Abstract The degree to which widespread avian blood parasites in the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus pose a threat novel hosts depends part on they are constrained particular host or family. We examined distribution host‐specificity of these birds from two relatively understudied isolated locations: Australia Papua New Guinea. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we detected infection 69 105 species, representing 44% individuals surveyed ( n = 428). Across families, prevalence ranged...
The question of when modern birds (Neornithes) first diversified has generated much debate among avian systematists. Fossil evidence generally supports a Tertiary diversification, whereas estimates based on molecular dating favor an earlier diversification in the Cretaceous period. In this study, we used alternate approach, inference historical biogeographic patterns, to test hypothesis that initial radiation Order Psittaciformes (the parrots and cockatoos) originated Gondwana supercontinent...
We describe dialects in the flight whistle of Brown-headed Cowbird and contrast previous hypotheses for maintenance with a new one that assumes male's ability to give correct local dialect is an honest signal relatively high male quality. The three upon which we focus are part extensive system along eastern Sierra Nevada. partially isolated by unsuitable habitat unusual because they differ via lexical rather than less extreme phonetic differences characterize song most other species. Because...
Many species, including humans, have emerged via complex reticulate processes involving hybridisation. Under certain circumstances, hybridisation can cause distinct lineages to collapse into a single lineage with an admixed mosaic genome. Most known cases of such 'speciation reversal' or 'lineage fusion' involve recently diverged and anthropogenic perturbation. Here, we show that in western North America, Common Ravens (Corvus corax) genomes formed by the fusion non-sister ('California'...
The genus Equus is richly represented in the fossil record, yet our understanding of taxonomic relationships within this remains limited. To estimate phylogenetic among modern horses, zebras, asses and donkeys, we generated first data set including complete mitochondrial sequences from all seven extant lineages Equus. Bayesian Maximum Likelihood inference confirms that zebras are monophyletic genus, Plains Grevy's form a well-supported group. Using ancient DNA techniques, further...
Even with global support for tiger (Panthera tigris) conservation their survival is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and isolation. Currently about 3,000 wild tigers persist in small fragmented populations within seven percent of historic range. Identifying securing linkages that connect source maintaining landscape-level gene flow an important long-term strategy endangered carnivores. However, corridors link regional are often lost to development projects due lack objective evidence on...
Abstract The amphibian skin microbiome is recognized for its role in defence against pathogens, including the deadly fungal pathogen B atrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Yet, we have little understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes that structure these communities, especially salamanders closely related species. We investigated patterns distribution bacterial communities on P lethodon salamander across host species environments. Quantifying contributes to our how...
Endangered San Joaquin kit foxes Vulpes macrotis mutica can be sympatrically distributed with as many four other canids: red fox, gray coyote and domestic dog. Canid scats are often found during routine fieldwork, but cannot reliably identified to species. To detect study the endangered we developed mitochondrial DNA markers that amplified from small amounts of extracted scats. We a 412‐bp fragment cytochrome‐ b gene scat samples digested it three restriction enzymes. The resulting profiles...
Widespread species that are morphologically uniform may be likely to harbour cryptic genetic variation. Common ravens (Corvus corax) have an extensive range covering nearly the entire Northern Hemisphere, but show little discrete phenotypic We obtained tissue samples from throughout much of this and collected mitochondrial sequence nuclear microsatellite data. Our study revealed a deep break between western United States rest world. These two groups, 'California clade' 'Holarctic well...
Abstract The northern elephant seal (NES) suffered a severe population bottleneck towards the end of nineteenth century. Theoretical expectations for impact bottlenecks include loss genetic diversity and fitness (e.g. through disruption developmental stability); however, there are few direct demonstrations in natural populations. Here, we report on comparison archive samples collected prior to following NES bottleneck. Measures show variation consistent with suggest strong pattern allele...
All previously obtained wolf (Canis lupus) and dog familiaris) mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences fall within an intertwined shallow clade (the 'wolf–dog' clade). We sequenced mtDNA of recent historical samples from 45 wolves throughout lowland peninsular India 23 the Himalayas Tibetan Plateau compared these with all available sequences. Indian have one four closely related haplotypes that form a well–supported, divergent sister lineage to wolf–dog clade. This unique may been independent for...
Bird species in the genus Pitohui are chemically defended by a potent neurotoxic alkaloid their skin and feathers. The two most toxic pitohui species, hooded (Pitohui dichrous) variable kirhocephalus), sometimes strikingly patterned and, certain portions of geographical ranges, both share nearly identical colour pattern, whereas other areas they do not. Müllerian mimicry (the mutual resemblance prey species) is common some animal groups birds have been suggested as one likely cases birds....