A5051091542- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Animal testing and alternatives
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- MicroRNA in disease regulation
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Plant and animal studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
George Mason University
2019-2025
University of Birmingham
2024-2025
University of South Alabama
2014-2021
Ecological Society of America
2018
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2018
Environmental Protection Agency
2014
University of Colorado Boulder
2010
Princeton University
2010
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
2010
Yale University
2005-2010
Abstract Three recent drinking-water–associated cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in Northern Ireland were investigated by using genotyping and subgenotyping tools. One Cryptosporidium parvum outbreak was caused the bovine genotype, two human genotype. Subgenotyping analyses indicate that predominant subgenotypes associated with these had been circulating community.
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...
Given the numerous chemicals used in society, it is critical to develop tools for accurate and efficient evaluation of potential risks human ecological receptors. Fish embryo acute toxicity tests are 1 tool that has been shown be highly predictive standard, more resource-intensive, juvenile fish tests. However, there also evidence embryos less sensitive than certain types chemicals, including neurotoxicants. The utility pesticide hazard assessment was investigated by comparing published...
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...
Giant tortoises, a prominent symbol of the Galápagos archipelago, illustrate influence geological history and natural selection on diversification organisms. Because heavy human exploitation, 4 15 known species ( Geochelone spp.) have disappeared. Charles Darwin himself detailed intense harvesting one species, G. elephantopus , which once was endemic to island Floreana. This believed been exterminated within years Darwin's historic visit in 1835. The application modern DNA techniques museum...
As once boldly stated, 'bad taxonomy can kill', highlighting the critical importance of accurate for conservation endangered taxa. The concept continues to evolve almost 15 years later largely because most legal protections aimed at preserving biological diversity are based on formal taxonomic designations. In this paper we report unrecognized genetic divisions within giant tortoises Galápagos. We found three distinct lineages among populations formerly considered a single taxon populous and...
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are incredibly diverse in terms of chemical structures, physicochemical properties, modes action, making their environmental impacts challenging to assess. New prioritization methodologies have emerged that compare contaminant monitoring concentrations multiple toxicity data sources, including whole organism high-throughput data, develop a list "high priority" chemicals requiring further study. We applied such an approach assess PPCPs...
The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA) is an in vivo screen to assess potential interactions of chemicals with the thyroid system. Tadpoles are exposed for 21-days, then assessed development and growth after 7 days at test termination. This paper presents data from studies performed satisfy orders US EPA's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. Data Evaluation Records were used collate control variability performance biological endpoints AMAs conducted different laboratories, supplemented...
Twenty years ago, the field of ancient DNA was launched with publication two short mitochondrial (mt) sequences from a single quagga ( Equus ) museum skin, an extinct South African equid Higuchi et al . 1984 Nature 312 , 282–284). This first species which genetic information retrieved. The showed that it more closely related to zebras than horses. However, evolutionary history is far clear. We have isolated eight quaggas and plains zebra (subspecies or phenotype burchelli ). show displayed...
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...
Galapagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) are a group of large, long-lived reptiles that includes 14 species, 11 which extant and threatened by human activities introductions non-native species. Here, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationships all two extinct species abingdonii from island Pinta Chelonoidis niger Floreana) using Bayesian maximum likelihood analysis complete or nearly mitochondrial genomes. We also provide an updated phylogeographic scenario their colonization Islands...
Cryptosporidium meleagridis is a common cause of cryptosporidiosis in birds. In addition, recent reports have described the parasite as an etiologic agent both immunocompetent and immunocompromised humans. Therefore, it important to genetically characterize isolates C. from different hosts geographic areas, develop molecular tools differentiate various or areas. this study, total 11 human avian were examined at three genetic loci: small-subunit rRNA, 60-kDa glycoprotein precursor, 70-kDa...
Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) inhabit the coastlines of large and small islands throughout Galápagos archipelago, providing a rich system to study spatial temporal factors influencing phylogeographic distribution population structure species. Here, we analyze microevolution marine using complete mitochondrial control region (CR) as well 13 microsatellite loci representing more than 1200 individuals from islands.CR data show that occupy three general clades: one is widely...
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...
During the Pleistocene pygmy elephantids, some only a quarter of their ancestors' size, were present on Mediterranean islands until about 10,000 years ago (y.a.). Using new methodology for ancient DNA (aDNA) studies, whole genomic multiple displacement amplification method, we able to retrieve cytochrome b (cytb) fragments from 4200 800,000 y.a. specimens island and mainland samples, including normal-sized forms. The short sequence (43 bp) retrieved sample is one oldest fragment ever...
ABSTRACT Identifying species with unusually low cancer prevalence can provide new insights into resistance. Most studies have focused on mammals, but the genetic, physiological, and ecological diversity among vertebrates influence susceptibility. We used necropsies from over a thousand of amphibians, birds, crocodilians, squamates, turtles to investigate relationships between prevalence, intrinsic risk, body mass, lifespan. Previous often relied averages, leading inaccurate interpretations....
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major source of climatic disturbance, impacting the dynamics ecosystems worldwide. Recent models predict that human-generated rises in green-house gas levels will cause an increase strength and frequency Niño warming events next several decades, highlighting need to understand potential biological consequences increased ENSO activity. Studies have focused on ecological demographic implications range organisms, but there been few systematic...
Squamates are a diverse order of vertebrates, representing more than 7,000 species. Yet, descriptions full-length major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in this group nearly absent from the literature, while number MHC studies continues to rise other vertebrate taxa. The lack basic information about organization squamates inhibits investigation into relationship between polymorphism and disease, leaves large taxonomic gap our understanding amniote evolution. Here, we use both cDNA...