A5037239952- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Gut microbiota and health
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
University of California, Berkeley
2019-2025
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
2021-2025
University of Michigan
2017-2025
Zero to Three
2017
Michigan United
2017
Snakes and lizards (Squamata) represent a third of terrestrial vertebrates exhibit spectacular innovations in locomotion, feeding, sensory processing. However, the evolutionary drivers this radiation remain poorly known. We infer potential causes ultimate consequences squamate macroevolution by combining individual-based natural history observations (>60,000 animals) with comprehensive time-calibrated phylogeny that we anchored genomic data (5400 loci) from 1018 species. Due to shifts...
Population divergence is the first step in allopatric speciation, as has long been recognized both theoretical models of speciation and empirical explorations natural systems. All else being equal, lineages with substantial population differentiation should form new species more quickly than that maintain range-wide genetic cohesion through high levels gene flow. However, there have few direct tests extent to which predicts rates measured on phylogenetic trees. Here, we explicitly test links...
Genome-scale data have the potential to clarify phylogenetic relationships across tree of life but also revealed extensive gene conflict. This seeming paradox, whereby larger sets both increase statistical confidence and uncover significant discordance, suggests that understanding sources conflict is important for accurate reconstruction evolutionary history. We explore this paradox in squamate reptiles, vertebrate clade comprising lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians. collected an average 5103...
Rates of species formation vary widely across the tree life and contribute to massive disparities in richness among clades. This variation can emerge from differences metapopulation-level processes that affect rates at which lineages diverge, persist, evolve reproductive barriers ecological differentiation. For example, populations quickly should form new faster than acquire more slowly. expectation implicitly links microevolutionary (the evolution populations) macroevolutionary patterns...
The identification of conserved loci across genomes, along with advances in target capture methods and high-throughput sequencing, has helped spur a phylogenomics revolution by enabling researchers to gather large numbers homologous clades interest minimal upfront investment locus design. Target for vertebrate animals is currently dominated two approaches-anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) ultraconserved elements (UCE)-and both approaches have proven useful addressing questions phylogenomics,...
Nicaragua is a biodiverse country, but documented herpetological specimens are underrepresented compared to neighboring countries. In 2018 we conducted collaborative expedition between the University of Michigan Museum Zoology and Nicaraguan biologists. We visited sites in Pacific Low‑ lands, Caribbean Lowlands, Central Highlands, representing three major biogeographic regions Nicaragua. collected 100 species from total 106 encountered. provide acces‑ sion numbers...
Abstract Early burst patterns of speciation – the disproportionate concentration events early in history a radiating clade are predicted under some models adaptive radiation. Using time-calibrated phylogenetic trees, researchers have inferred evidence an for wide range organisms. However, interpretation these can be fraught with controversy, because taxonomic and sampling biases phenomenon we refer to as “taxon murk” lead apparent decelerations rate through time. Australia's diverse...
Color polymorphism in natural populations can manifest as a striking patchwork of phenotypes space, with neighboring characterized by dramatic differences morph composition. These geographic mosaics be challenging to explain the absence localized selection because they are unlikely result from simple isolation-by-distance or clinal variation selective regimes. To identify processes that lead formation mosaics, we developed simulation-based model explore influence predator perspective,...
Species abundance data are critical for testing ecological theory, but obtaining accurate empirical estimates many taxa is challenging. Proxies species can help researchers circumvent time and cost constraints that prohibitive long-term sampling. Under simple demographic models, genetic diversity expected to correlate with census size, such genome-wide heterozygosity may provide a surrogate measure of abundance. We tested whether nucleotide correlated abundance, occupancy degree...
We assessed the utility of stable isotope analysis as a tool for understanding community ecological structure in species-rich clade scincid lizards from one world's most diverse lizard communities. Using phylogenetic comparative framework, we tested whether δ15N and δ13C isotopic composition individual was correlated with species-specific estimates diet habitat use. find that species are highly divergent significant correlations to use, but this relationship shows no signal. Isotopic...
AbstractSpecies vary extensively in geographic range size and climatic niche breadth. If limits are primarily determined by factors, species with broad tolerances those that track geographically widespread climates should have large ranges. However, ranges might increase the probability of population fragmentation adaptive divergence, potentially decoupling breadth size. Conversely, ecological generalism large-ranged lead to higher gene flow across transitions, increasing species' cohesion...
Abstract Host-associated bacteria vary in their host breadth, which can impact ecological interactions. By colonizing diverse hosts, generalists have disproportionate impacts. For bacteria, generalism may advantageous, particularly when the availability of specific hosts is variable. It unclear how much ability to evolve generalism, by inhabiting constrained host-associated bacteria. We hypothesized that constraints on bacterial will differ depending species. To test this, we assessed...
ABSTRACT When you take the time to observe another organism, there is a sort of gravity that can hold, mixture curiosity and connection expands strengthens more interact with organism. Yet, in research, one's study organism can, at times, feel countercultural. Study organisms are sometimes viewed as tools conveniently biological questions. Here, we explicitly highlight importance organism-centered research not only scientific discovery, but also conservation communication perception science.
The White Sands lizards of New Mexico are a rare and classic example convergent evolution where three species have evolved blanched coloration on the white gypsum dunes. Until now, no geological replicate pattern had been described. However, one species, lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata), has discovered to also inhabit Salt Basin Dunes Texas, it morph. We here present first phenotypic genetic description population H. maculata. Phylogenetic inference based housekeeping gene (ND4)...