A5040469355- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
George Mason University
2019-2024
University of Nottingham
2024
ORCID
2023
University of South Alabama
2014-2022
Ecological Society of America
2018
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2018
Universidade do Porto
2012-2014
Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos
2011-2013
Université de Montpellier
2009-2013
Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier
2009-2013
BACKGROUND: Identifying species of organisms by short sequences DNA has been in the center ongoing discussions under terms barcoding or taxonomy. A C-terminal fragment mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) proposed as universal marker this purpose among animals. RESULTS: Herein we present experimental evidence that 16S rRNA fulfills requirements a amphibians. In universality priming sites and identification major vertebrate clades studied is superior to COI. Amplification...
The morphological peculiarities of turtles have, for a long time, impeded their accurate placement in the phylogeny amniotes. Molecular data used to address this major evolutionary question have so far been limited handful markers and/or taxa. These studies supported conflicting topologies, positioning as either sister group all other reptiles, lepidosaurs (tuatara, lizards and snakes), archosaurs (birds crocodiles), or crocodilians. Genome-scale shown be useful resolving debated...
The genus Mantella, endemic poison frogs of Madagascar with 16 described species, are known in the field international pet trade and entered under CITES control for last four years. phylogeny phylogeography this have been recently subject study conservation purposes. Here we report on studies Mantella cowani group using a fragment 453 bp mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 195 individuals 21 localities. This is represented by five forms: M. cowani, critically endangered vulnerable...
Abstract Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies offer the opportunity for population genomic study of non‐model organisms sampled in wild. The transcriptome is a convenient and popular target such purposes. However, designing genetic markers from NGS data requires assembling gene‐coding sequences out short reads. This complex task owing to gene duplications, polymorphism, alternative splicing transcription noise. Typical programmes return thousands predicted contigs, whose connection...
Giant tortoises are among the longest-lived vertebrate animals and, as such, provide an excellent model to study traits like longevity and age-related diseases. However, genomic molecular evolutionary information on giant is scarce. Here, we describe a global analysis of genomes Lonesome George-the iconic last member Chelonoidis abingdonii-and Aldabra tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Comparison these with those related species, using both unsupervised supervised analyses, led us detect...
Abstract Aim Amphibians are a model group for studies of the biogeographical origins salt‐intolerant taxa on oceanic islands. We used Gulf Guinea islands to explore island endemism one species frog, and this gain insights into potential colonization mechanisms. Location São Tomé Príncipe, two four major in Guinea, West Africa, truly have an exceptionally high biodiversity. Methods Mitochondrial DNA is test endemic status frog from compare it with congeneric tropical Africa. Existing data...
Abstract Next Generation Sequencing technologies (NGS) are rapidly invading many evolutionary and ecological fields, such as phylogenomics, molecular evolution, population genomics ecology. Among the potential targets of NGS is transcriptome sequencing, a fast relatively cheap way to generate massive amounts coding sequence data, offering promising perspectives for analysis diversity in wild. A number ecology research groups therefore may switch from DNA‐based RNA‐based typing near future....
The taxonomy of giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) is currently based primarily on morphological characters and island origin. Over the last decade, compelling genetic evidence has accumulated for multiple independent evolutionary lineages, spurring need taxonomic revision. On Santa Cruz there a single named species, C. porteri. Recent studies have shown that, within this taxon, are two evolutionarily spatially distinct lineages western eastern sectors island, known as Reserva...
Abstract Malagasy poison frogs of the genus Mantella are diurnal and toxic amphibians highly variable largely aposematic coloration. Previous studies provided evidence for several instances homoplastic colour evolution in this but were unable to sufficiently resolve relationships among major species groups or clarify phylogenetic position crucial taxa. Here, we provide cytochrome b data 143 individuals three madagascariensis group, including four newly discovered populations. Three these new...
Abstract Neutral rates of molecular evolution vary across species, and this variation has been shown to be related biological traits. One the first patterns observed in vertebrates an inverse relationship between body mass (BM) substitution rates. The effects three major life‐history traits (LHT) that covary with BM – metabolic rate, generation time longevity (LON) have invoked explain relationship. However, most theoretical empirical evidence supporting comes from endothermic vertebrates,...
Seagrass meadows form ecologically and economically valuable coastal habitat on every continental margin except the Antarctic, but their areal extent is declining by approximately 2–5 % per year. wasting disease a contributing factor in these declines, with protist Labyrinthula identified as etiologic agent. To help elucidate role of spp. global seagrass we surveyed roughly one fourth all species to identify diversity at strain and/or level, combining results from culturing methods two...
Genomic resources across squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) have lagged behind other vertebrate systems high-quality reference genomes remain scarce. Of the 23 chromosome-scale order, only 12 of ~60 families are represented. Within geckos (infraorder Gekkota), a species-rich clade lizards, chromosome-level exceptionally sparse representing two seven extant families. Using latest advances in genome sequencing assembly methods, we generated one highest-quality to date for leopard gecko,...
Nearly 90% of flowering plants depend on animals for reproduction. One the main rewards offer to pollinators visitation is nectar. Nesocodon mauritianus (Campanulaceae) produces a blood-red nectar that has been proposed serve as visual attractant pollinator visitation. Here, we show nectar's red color derived from previously undescribed alkaloid termed nesocodin. The first produced acidic and pale yellow in color, but slowly becomes alkaline before taking its characteristic color. Three...
Detecting the factors that determine interruption of gene flow between populations is key to understanding how speciation occurs. In this context, caves are an excellent system for studying processes colonization, differentiation and speciation, since they represent discrete geographical units often with known geological histories. Here, we asked whether discontinuous calcareous areas cave systems major barriers within among five species Sardinian salamanders (genus Hydromantes)...
Galápagos tortoises represent the only surviving lineage of giant that exhibit two different types shell morphology. The taxonomy was initially based mainly on diagnostic morphological characters shell, but has been clarified by molecular studies indicating most islands harbor monophyletic lineages, with exception Isabela and Santa Cruz. On Cruz there is strong genetic differentiation between tortoise populations (Cerro Fatal La Reserva) exhibiting domed Here we integrate nuclear...
We examined two image-based methods, photogrammetry and stereo vision, used for reconstructing the three-dimensional form of biological organisms under field conditions. also developed tested a third 'hybrid' method, which combines other techniques. these three methodologies using different cameras to obtain digital images museum sampled specimens giant tortoises. Both precision repeatability methods were assessed statistically on same by comparing geodesic Euclidean measurements made models...
The giant Galápagos tortoise, Chelonoidis nigra, is a large-sized terrestrial chelonian of high patrimonial interest. species recently colonized small continental archipelago, the Islands, where it has been facing novel environmental conditions and limited resource availability. To explore genomic consequences this ecological shift, we analyze transcriptomic variability five individuals C. compare to similar data obtained from several turtles. Having clarified timing divergence in genus,...
Self-righting, the capacity of an animal to self-turn after falling on its back, is a fitness-related trait. Delayed self-righting can result in loss mating opportunities or death. Traits involved may therefore be under selection. Galápagos giant tortoises have two main shell morphologies - saddleback and domed that been proposed adaptive. The more sloped shape sides longer extension neck legs saddlebacks could evolved optimize self-righting. drier environments with uneven surfaces where...
The dorsal surfaces of many taxonomic groups often feature repetitive pattern elements consisting stripes, spots, or bands. Here, we investigate how distinct categories camouflage work by relating them to ecological and behavioral traits in 439 species gecko. We use phylogenetic comparative methods test outstanding hypotheses based on theory research other taxa. found that bands are associated with nocturnal activity, suggesting provide effective for motionless geckos resting refugia during...
Chemical use in society is growing rapidly and one of the five major pressures on biodiversity worldwide. Since empirical toxicity studies pollutants generally focus a handful model organisms, reliable approaches are needed to assess sensitivity chemicals across wide variety species environment. Phylogenetic comparative methods (PCM) offer promising approach for extrapolation incorporating known evolutionary relationships among species. If phylogenetic signal data high, i.e., closely related...
The release of large quantities chemicals into the environment represents a major source environmental disturbance. In recent years, focus ecotoxicology has shifted from describing effects chemical contaminants on individual species to developing more integrated approaches for predicting and evaluating long term across ecosystems. Traditional is typically based data sensitivity contaminant few surrogate often considers little variability in within among taxonomic groups. This approach...
Abstract Advanced, transcriptome-based molecular techniques require the use of RNA high quality and quantity. extraction from nucleated blood endangered non-model organisms is still problematic due to insufficient starting material or physico-chemical differences between samples different organisms. Here we evaluate, validate, suggest modifications two protocols used for on animals with red cells such as birds, crocodilians, turtles.
Genotypic variation, environmental and their interaction may produce variation in the developmental process cause phenotypic differences among individuals. Developmental noise, which arises during development from stochasticity cellular molecular processes when genotype environment are fixed, also contributes to variation. While evolutionary biology has long focused on teasing apart relative contribution of genes our understanding role noise lagged due technical difficulties directly...