A5040626259- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Gut microbiota and health
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
University of Oklahoma
2015-2024
American Museum of Natural History
2010-2023
Oklahoma Biological Survey
2018-2021
Government Communications Headquarters
2021
University of Kansas
2007-2020
Museo de Historia Natural
2020
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
2020
University of South Dakota
2012-2013
The University of Texas at Austin
2013
National Museum of the Philippines
2013
Long celebrated for its spectacular landscapes and strikingly high levels of endemic biodiversity, the Philippines has been studied intensively by biogeographers two centuries. Concentration so many land vertebrates into a small area shared patterns distribution in unrelated forms inspired search common mechanisms production, partitioning, maintenance life archipelago. In this review, we (a) characterize an ongoing renaissance species discovery, (b) discuss changing way conceive archipelago,...
Two new species of the gekkonid lizard genus Hemiphyllodactylus are described based on specimens collected from Champasak Province in southern Laos and Houaphanh northern Laos. Phylogenetic analyses recover H. indosobrinus sp. nov. as sister lineage to Thai endemic flaviventris. can be diagnosed by having 15 supralabial scales, eight chin 4‑5‑5‑4 subdigital lamellae Fingers II–V, 4‑5‑5‑5 Toes 18 continuous precloacofemoral pores. serpispecus most closely related Vietnamese banaensis. differs...
Despite being recognized as ecologically and biogeographically important, the biodiversity of Hengduan Mountain Region, particularly along upper Mekong River, remains poorly understood. Here we describe a new species Dragon genus Japalura sensu lato Gray, 1853 from headwater region River in Chamdo, Tibet Autonomous China. The is member flaviceps Barbour & Dunn 1919 complex, it can be distinguished readily all congeners by suite morphological characteristics, including its dwarf...
Addressing climate change and biodiversity loss will be the defining ecological, political, humanitarian challenge of our time. Alarmingly, policymakers face a narrowing window opportunity to prevent worst impacts, necessitating complex decisions about which land set aside for preservation. Yet, ability make these is hindered by limited capacity predict how species respond synergistic drivers extinction risk. We argue that rapid integration biogeography behavioral ecology can meet challenges...
Abstract Aim We examine the genetic diversity within lizard genus Gekko in Philippine islands to understand role of geography and geological history shaping species this group. test multiple biogeographical hypotheses relationships, including recently proposed Palawan Ark Hypothesis. Location Southeast Asia Philippines. Methods Samples all island endemic widespread were collected sequenced for one mitochondrial gene (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) nuclear (phosducin). used maximum likelihood...
Living amphibians exhibit a diversity of ecologies, life histories, and species-rich lineages that offers opportunities for studies adaptive radiation. We characterize diverse clade frogs (Kaloula, Microhylidae) in the Philippine island archipelago as an example radiation into three primary habitat specialists or ecotypes. use novel phylogenetic estimate this to evaluate tempo lineage accumulation morphological diversification. Because species-level estimates Kaloula are lacking, we employ...
Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) is rapidly gaining popularity in population genetics. One example, msBayes, infers the distribution of divergence times among pairs taxa, allowing phylogeographers to test hypotheses about historical causes diversification co‐distributed groups organisms. Using we infer 22 populations vertebrates distributed across Philippine Archipelago. Our objective was whether sea‐level oscillations during Pleistocene caused islands. To guide interpretation our...
Regions with complex geological histories often have diverse and highly endemic biotas, yet inferring the ecological historical processes shaping this relationship remains challenging. Here, in context of taxon cycle model insular community assembly, we investigate patterns lineage diversity habitat usage a newly characterized vertebrate radiation centred upon world's most geologically region: island arcs spanning from Philippines to Fiji. On taxa are ecologically widespread, provide...
As humans continue to explore the last uncharted regions of planet, discoveries previously unknown species large vertebrates have become infrequent. Here, we report on discovery a spectacular new giant, secretive, frugivorous, forest monitor lizard (Genus: Varanus ) from forests northern Philippines. Using data morphology and mitochondrial nuclear DNA sequences, demonstrate taxonomic distinctiveness this 2 m long provide insight into its historical biogeography systematic affinities. Our...
We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together publicly historical information biodiversity repositories, we present new several major herpetological surveys, recently conducted inventories on four mountains Mindanao, adjacent Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, Siargao. accounts for taxa, comment unresolved taxonomic problems, provide...
The gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus is the third most speciose vertebrate in world, containing well over 300 species that collectively range from South Asia to Melanesia across some of diverse landscapes and imperiled habitats on planet. A genus-wide phylogeny group has never been presented because researchers working different groups were using genetic markers construct phylogenies could not be integrated. We present here Maximum likelihood Bayesian inference mitochondrial mito-nuclear...
We review the Philippine frogs of genus Leptobrachuim. All previous treatments have referred populations to L. hasseltii, a species we restrict Java and Bali, Indonesia. use external morphology, body proportions, color pattern, advertisement calls, phylogenetic analysis molecular sequence data show that Leptobrachium represent three distinct formerly unrecognized evolutionary lineages, describe each (populations on Mindoro, Palawan, Mindanao Island groups) as new species. Our findings...
We review the taxonomic status of Philippine bent-toed geckos previously referred to Cyrtodactylus agusanensis. delineate four evolutionary lineages within C. agusanensis complex from southeastern islands archipelago and describe three these as new species. The species true are identified by numerous, nonoverlapping morphological characters allopatric ranges on separate islands. Our morphology-based conclusions bolstered biogeographic evidence marked interspecific divergence between...
Evolutionary simplification, or loss of complex characters, is a major theme in studies body-form evolution. The apparently infrequent evolutionary reacquisition characters has led to the assertion (Dollo's Law) that once lost, may be impossible re-evolve, at least via exact same process. Here, we provide one most comprehensive, fine-scale analyses squamate evolution date, introducing new model system closely related, morphologically variable, lizards. Our phylogenetic results support...
We provide the first report on herpetological biodiversity (amphibians and reptiles) of northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range (Cagayan Isabela provinces), northeast Luzon Island, Philippines. New data from extensive previously unpublished surveys in Municipalities Gonzaga, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Ana, Baggao Province), as well fieldwork Cabagan, San Mariano, Palanan (Isabela combined with all available historical museum records, suggest this region is quite diverse. Our new indicate that at...
We present a near comprehensive, densely sampled, multilocus phylogenetic estimate of species relationships within the anuran family Ceratobatrachidae, morphologically and ecologically diverse group frogs from island archipelagos Southeast Asia South-West Pacific. Ceratobatrachid consist three clades: small clade enigmatic, primarily high-elevation, semi-aquatic Sundaland currently assigned to Ingerana (for which we erect new genus), is sister taxon two large, monophyletic radiations, each...
Abstract Aim To utilize comprehensive geographical sampling and a new, multilocus dataset to re‐examine the biogeography of spotted stream frogs ( Hylarana signata complex) throughout Southeast Asia. compare patterns diversification among frog populations on land‐bridge islands oceanic re‐evaluate previous ‘dual‐invasion’ hypothesis for origins endemic Philippine taxa. Location Asia, Sundaland, Philippines. Methods We sequenced two mitochondrial nuclear gene regions members complex. used...
Abstract In theory, competition among species in a shared habitat results niche separation. the case of small recondite mammals such as shrews, little is known about their autecologies, leaving open questions regarding degree to which closely related co‐occur and how or whether ecological niches are partitioned. The extent able coexist may depend on they exploit different features habitat, turn influence our ability recognize them species. We explored these issues biodiversity hotspot, by...
Abstract Recent conceptual, technological and methodological advances in phylogenetics have enabled increasingly robust statistical species delimitation studies of biodiversity. As the variety evidence purporting diversity has increased, so too kinds tools inferential power methods for delimiting species. Here, we showcase an organismal system a data‐rich, comparative molecular approach to evaluating strategies among monitor lizards genus V aranus . The water monitors ( salvator Complex),...
The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of vertebrates contains a series organs beginning with the mouth and ending anus or cloacal opening. Each organ represents unique environment for resident microorganisms. Due to their simple digestive anatomy, snakes are good models studying microbiome variation along GIT. Cloacal sampling captures majority microbial diversity found in GIT snakes—yet little is known about oral microbiota snakes. Most research on snake gut limited studies single species...