A5077347417- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Plant and animal studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Marine animal studies overview
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
George Washington University
2016-2025
National Museum of Natural History
2014-2024
Smithsonian Institution
2014-2024
GW Medical Faculty Associates
2023-2024
Gifu Women's University
2023
Dordt University
2023
University of Cincinnati
2014-2017
University of Connecticut
2014-2017
University of California, Los Angeles
2014-2017
Yale University
2017
The extant squamates (>9400 known species of lizards and snakes) are one the most diverse conspicuous radiations terrestrial vertebrates, but no studies have attempted to reconstruct a phylogeny for group with large-scale taxon sampling. Such an estimate is invaluable comparative evolutionary studies, address their classification. Here, we present first phylogenetic Squamata. estimated contains 4161 species, representing all currently recognized families subfamilies. analysis based on up...
Were molecular data available for extinct taxa, questions regarding the origins of many groups could be settled in short order. As this is not case, various strategies have been proposed to combine paleontological and neontological sets. The use fossil dates as node age calibrations divergence time estimation from phylogenies commonplace. In addition, simulations suggest that addition morphological taxa may improve phylogenetic when combined with extant species, some studies merged estimate...
Amphibia comprises over 7000 extant species distributed in almost every ecosystem on continent except Antarctica. Most also show high specificity for particular habitats, biomes, or climatic niches, seemingly rendering long-distance dispersal unlikely. Indeed, many lineages still seem to the signature of their Pangaean origin, approximately 300 Ma later. To date, no study has attempted a large-scale historical-biogeographic analysis group understand distribution lineages. Here, I use an...
Phylogenetic niche conservatism (PNC) typically refers to the tendency of closely related species be more similar each other in terms than they are distant relatives. This has been implicated as a potential driving force speciation and species-richness patterns, such latitudinal gradients. However, PNC not very well defined most previous studies. Is it pattern or process? What underlying endogenous (e.g. genetic) exogenous ecological) factors that cause niches conserved? degree similarity is...
Abstract Viviparity has putatively evolved 115 times in squamates (lizards and snakes), out of only ~ 140 origins vertebrates, is apparently related to colder climates other factors such as body size. evolves from oviparity via egg‐retention, taxa may thus still have the machinery produce thick‐shelled eggs. Parity mode also associated with variable diversification rates some groups. We reconstruct ancestral parity modes accounting for state‐dependent a large‐scale phylogenetic analysis,...
Genomics is narrowing uncertainty in the phylogenetic structure for many amniote groups. For one of most diverse and species-rich groups, squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, amphisbaenians), an inverse correlation between number taxa loci sampled still persists across all publications using DNA sequence data reaching a consensus on relationships among them has been highly problematic. In this study, we use high-throughput from 289 samples covering 75 families squamates to address affinities,...
Many groups show higher species richness in tropical regions but the underlying causes remain unclear. Despite many competing hypotheses to explain latitudinal diversity gradients, only three processes can directly change across regions: speciation, extinction and dispersal. These be addressed most powerfully using large-scale phylogenetic approaches, previous studies have focused on small recent time scales, or did not separate speciation rates. We investigate origins of high amphibians,...
Understanding phenotypic diversity requires not only identification of selective factors that favor origins derived states, but also retention primitive states. Anurans (frogs and toads) exhibit a remarkable reproductive modes is unique among terrestrial vertebrates. Here, we analyze the evolution these modes, using comparative methods on phylogeny matched life-history database 720 species, including most families modes. As expected, with eggs aquatic larvae often precede direct development...
Abstract Aim Size is one of the most important and obvious traits an organism. Both small large sizes have adaptive advantages disadvantages. Body size–frequency distributions clades are unimodal right skewed. Species larger than mean or range midpoint body relatively scarce. Theoretical models suggest evolutionary rates higher in organisms with short generation times. Therefore diversification usually thought to be maximal at sizes. Empirical studies molecular evolution clade...
Molecular phylogenies have yielded strong support for many parts of the amphibian Tree Life, but poor resolution deeper nodes, including relationships among families and orders. To clarify these relationships, we provide a phylogenomic perspective on by developing taxon-specific Anchored Hybrid Enrichment protocol targeting hundreds conserved exons which are effective across class. After obtaining data from 220 loci 286 species (representing 94% 44% genera), estimate phylogeny extant...
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...
Differences in species richness between regions are ultimately explained by patterns of speciation, extinction, and biogeographic dispersal. Yet, few studies have considered the role all three processes generating high biodiversity tropical regions. A recent study a speciose group predominately New World frogs (Hylidae) showed that their low diversity temperate was associated with relatively colonization these regions, rather than latitudinal differences diversification rates (rates...
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...
Snake diversity varies by at least two orders of magnitude among extant lineages, with numerous groups containing only one or species, and several young clades exhibiting exceptional richness (>700 taxa). With a phylogeny all known families subfamilies, we find that these patterns cannot be explained background rates speciation extinction. The majority appears to derive from radiation within the superfamily Colubroidea, potentially stemming colonization new areas evolution advanced...
Here, I combine previously underutilized models and priors to perform more biologically realistic phylogenetic inference from morphological data, with an example squamate reptiles. When coding characters, it is often possible denote ordered states explicit reference observed or hypothetical ancestral conditions. Using this logic, we can integrate across character-state labels estimate meaningful rates of forward backward transitions plesiomorphy apomorphy. refer approach as MkA, for...
Abstract Niche conservatism and niche divergence are both important ecological mechanisms associated with promoting allopatric speciation across geographical barriers. However, the potential for variable responses in widely distributed organisms has not been fully investigated. For sister lineages, three patterns interaction of preference barriers possible: (i) at a physical barrier; (ii) (iii) absence barrier. We test presence these transcontinentally snake species, common kingsnake (...
Abstract Aim Three common patterns have emerged in comparative phylogeographic analyses at many barriers: (1) a potential geographic pseudocongruence of lineage divergences; (2) disconnect between the inference temporally clustered, relatively recent timing for observed speciation events, and dates spanning broader, apparently random time‐scale; (3) an apparent prevalence with or continuing gene flow. It is unclear if there unifying explanation these phenomena. We argue that interaction...