A5047760703- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
2015-2024
Museo Civico di Zoologia
2024
National Museum of Natural History
2005-2023
Smithsonian Institution
2007-2023
La Sierra University
2021
Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
2021
Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
2021
National Museum of Natural History
2009
American Museum of Natural History
2000-2005
University of Kansas
2000-2005
George Gaylord Simpson famously postulated that much of life's diversity originated as adaptive radiations—more or less simultaneous divergences numerous lines from a single ancestral type. However, identifying radiations has proven difficult due to lack broad-scale comparative datasets. Here, we use phylogenetic data on body size and shape in animal clades test key model radiation, which initially rapid morphological evolution is followed by relative stasis. We compared the fit this both...
Abstract Protected Areas (PAs) are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. Here, we collated distributional data for >14,000 (~70% of) species amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) to perform a global assessment conservation effectiveness PAs using distribution models. Our analyses reveal that >91% herpetofauna currently distributed in PAs, this proportion will remain unaltered under future climate change. Indeed, loss species’ ranges be lower inside than outside them....
The genus Synophis contains a number of enigmatic species, distributed primarily in the Andean highlands northern South America. Their extreme crypsis and rarity has precluded detailed study most species. A recent flurry collection activity resulted accession many new specimens, description 4 species 2015, doubling described taxa. However, lingering questions remain regarding assignment historical morphological limits geographical ranges their phylogenetic relationships. We analyze existing...
Abstract Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history – but what kind temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence body temperatures, while biogeographers macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim relationship between these two measures, determine factors that affect lizard temperatures test effect both temperature measures history. Location World‐wide. Methods used a large (861 species) global dataset mean annual across...
Anolis lizards (anoles) are textbook study organisms in evolution and ecology. Although several topics evolutionary biology have been elucidated by the of anoles, progress some areas has hampered limited phylogenetic information on this group. Here, we present a analysis all 379 extant species Anolis, with new data for 139 including DNA 101 species. We use resulting estimates as basis defining anole clade names under principles nomenclature to examine biogeographic history anoles. Our...
Ecuador's territory harbors a unique set of species and ecosystems, many them endemic to the countries' subject different sources threat anthropogenic origin. Despite national subnational conservation strategies developed in Ecuador conserve its biodiversity long run, including National System Protected Areas (PANE) forest incentive program SocioBosque (PSB), further actions are needed mitigate reverse effects threats for persistence biodiversity. This study was designed identify most...
Abstract Aim Longevity is an important life‐history trait, directly linked to the core attributes of fitness (reproduction and survival), yet large‐scale comparative studies quantifying its implications for ecology life history ectotherms are scarce. We tested allometry longevity in squamates tuatara, determined how related key environmental characteristics traits. Predictions based on theory expected hold true ectotherms, similarly mammals birds. Location World‐wide. Methods assembled from...
Abstract Aim Small geographic ranges make species especially prone to extinction from anthropogenic disturbances or natural stochastic events. We assemble and analyse a comprehensive dataset of all the world's lizard identify with smallest ranges—those known only their type localities. compare them wide‐ranging infer whether specific regions biological traits predispose have small ranges. Location Global. Methods extensively surveyed museum collections, primary literature our own field...
Abstract Aim Clutch size is a key life‐history trait. In lizards, it ranges over two orders of magnitude. The global drivers spatial and phylogenetic variation in clutch have been extensively studied birds, but such tests other organisms are lacking. To test the generality latitudinal gradients size, their putative drivers, we present first global‐scale analysis sizes across lizard taxa. Location Global. Time period Recent. Major taxa Lizards (Reptilia, Squamata, Sauria). Methods We analysed...
Leptodeira is one of the most widespread and taxonomically problematic snake taxa in Americas. Here we describe a new species from Andes southern Ecuador based on morphological molecular data. The geographically close morphologically similar to L. ornata larcorum, which it can be distinguished by having smaller dorsal body blotches, longer tail, shorter spines hemipenial body. shortest genetic distances between its congeners are 0.02 (16S), 0.05 (cytb), 0.18 (ND4). restricted Jubones River...
We describe a new species of Anolis lizard from the Pacific slopes Andes southwestern Ecuador at elevations between 372–1,000 m. The belongs to Dactyloa clade and may be distinguished other by size, external anatomy, mitochondrial DNA divergence, dewlap color. Based on phylogenetic analyses nuclear sequence data, we found that is sister A. fraseri in composed primarily large Dactyloid species. known protected area southern Ecuador, Buenaventura Reserve, which suggests least some its...
Abstract Aim Viviparity has evolved more times in squamates than any other vertebrate group; therefore, offer an excellent model system which to study the patterns, drivers and implications of reproductive mode evolution. Based on current species distributions, we examined three selective forces hypothesized drive evolution squamate viviparity (cold climate, variable climate hypoxic conditions) tested whether is associated with larger body size. Location Global. Time period Present day....
We created a database of lost and rediscovered tetrapod species, identified patterns in their distribution factors influencing rediscovery. Tetrapod species are being at faster rate than they rediscovered, due to slowing rates rediscovery for amphibians, birds mammals, rapid loss reptiles. Finding preventing future losses should therefore be conservation priority. By comparing the taxonomic spatial we have regions taxa with many comparison those that been rediscovered-our results may help...
We describe a new species of Enyalioides from mid-elevation rainforests in southeastern Ecuador. This represents the fifth known to occur east Andes South America; other four are E. cofanorum, laticeps, microlepis and praestabilis. Among characters, can be distinguished bydistinct caudal whorls, fewer than 32 longitudinal rows dorsals at midbody, bright orange red gular scales bordered with black adult males. Morphological similarity suggests that species, which we call rubrigularis, is...
Abstract Aim Although most reptiles are oviparous, viviparity is a common mode of reproduction in squamates and has evolved multiple times different lineages. We test two prevailing hypotheses regarding the biogeography reptile reproductive modes to evaluate selective forces driving evolution snakes. The cold climate hypothesis posits that selected for climates, whereas climatic predictability predicts advantageous seasonal climates. Location Global. Methods collated detailed distribution...
Abstract Environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and elevation, explain most of the variation in species richness at global scale. Nevertheless, patterns may have different drivers across taxa regions. To date, a comprehensive examination how various factors climate or topography drive all terrestrial vertebrates, using same methods predictors, has been lacking. Recent advances species‐distribution data allowed us to model examine pattern tetrapods comprehensively. We...
Abstract Aim Squamate fitness is affected by body temperature, which in turn influenced environmental temperatures and, many species, exposure to solar radiation. The biophysical drivers of temperature have been widely studied, but we lack an integrative synthesis actual experienced the field, and their relationships temperatures, across phylogeny, behaviour climate. Location Global (25 countries on six continents). Taxa Squamates (210 representing 25 families). Methods We measured 20,231...
Abstract Riama is the most speciose genus of Neotropical lizard family Gymnophthalmidae. Its more than 30 montane species occur throughout northern Andes, Cordillera de la Costa ( CC ) in Venezuela, and Trinidad. We present comprehensive phylogenetic analysis to date based on a total evidence TE approach direct optimization molecular morphological evidence. Analyses use DNA sequences from four loci 35 phenotypic characters. The dataset consists 55 ingroup terminals representing 25 currently...
A molecular phylogeny of the Neotropical snail-eating snakes (tribe Dipsadini) is presented including 43 (24 for first time) 77 species, sampled both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Morphological phylogenetic support was found four new species Dipsas one Sibon , which are described here based on their unique combination molecular, meristic, color pattern characteristics. Sibynomorphus designated as a junior subjective synonym . Dipsaslatifrontalis D.palmeri resurrected from synonymy...
South American Stenocercus lizards occur mostly in the Andes and adjacent lowland areas from northern Colombia Venezuela to central Argentina at elevations of 0–4000 m. In this paper, 61 species are recognized, including one resurrected as S. angulifer. Morphologically, angulifer more closely resembles aculeatus. For each species, a diagnosis, description, summary distribution provided based on examination 2001 specimens data literature. Notes color life natural history included for most...
With 61 species occurring mostly in the Andes and adjacent lowland areas, Stenocercus lizards represent one of most widespread well‐represented Andean vertebrate groups. Phylogenetic relationships among are inferred using different datasets based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data 35 morphological 59 species. Among data, polymorphic meristic/morphometric characters coded under frequency parsimony gap‐weighting methods, respectively, accuracy these methods is tested. When both types included,...