A5060271364- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Plant and animal studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
Louisiana State University
2016-2025
Houston Museum of Natural Science
2016-2025
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
2014-2016
Saint Louis University
2016
National Museum of Natural History
2001-2014
Smithsonian Institution
2001-2014
Swedish Veterinary Agency
2014
University of Connecticut
2014
American Museum of Natural History
2014
University of Colorado Boulder
2014
To better determine the history of modern birds, we performed a genome-scale phylogenetic analysis 48 species representing all orders Neoaves using phylogenomic methods created to handle data. We recovered highly resolved tree that confirms previously controversial sister or close relationships. identified first divergence in Neoaves, two groups named Passerea and Columbea, independent lineages diverse convergently evolved land water bird species. Among Passerea, infer common ancestor core...
Although massively parallel sequencing has facilitated large-scale DNA sequencing, comparisons among distantly related species rely upon small portions of the genome that are easily aligned. Methods needed to efficiently obtain comparable fragments prior particularly for biologists working with non-model organisms. We introduce a new class molecular marker, anchored by ultraconserved genomic elements (UCEs), universally enable target enrichment and thousands orthologous loci across separated...
Phylogenomics offers the potential to fully resolve Tree of Life, but increasing genomic coverage also reveals conflicting evolutionary histories among genes, demanding new analytical strategies for elucidating a single history life. Here, we outline phylogenomic approach using novel class phylogenetic markers derived from ultraconserved elements and flanking DNA. Using species-tree analysis that accounts discord hundreds independent loci, show this marker is useful recovering deep-level...
We present the first genomic-scale analysis addressing phylogenetic position of turtles, using over 1000 loci from representatives all major reptile lineages including tuatara. Previously, studies morphological traits positioned turtles either at base tree or with lizards, snakes and tuatara (lepidosaurs), whereas molecular analyses typically allied crocodiles birds (archosaurs). A recent shared microRNA families found that are more closely related to lepidosaurs. To test this hypothesis...
Dispersal can stimulate speciation by facilitating geographical expansion across barriers or inhibit maintaining gene flow among populations. Therefore, the relationship between dispersal ability and rates be positive negative. Furthermore, an ‘intermediate dispersal’ model that combines negative effects predicts a unimodal diversification. Because both are difficult to quantify, empirical evidence for diversification remains scarce. Using surrogate flight performance species-level DNA-based...
Patterns of diversification in species-rich clades provide insight into the processes that generate biological diversity. We tested different models lineage and phenotypic an exceptional continental radiation, ovenbird family Furnariidae, using most complete species-level phylogenetic hypothesis produced to date for a major avian clade (97% 293 species). found Furnariidae exhibit nearly constant rates accumulation but show evidence constrained morphological evolution. This pattern sustained...
Evolutionary relationships among birds in Neoaves, the clade comprising vast majority of avian diversity, have vexed systematists due to ancient, rapid radiation numerous lineages. We applied a new phylogenomic approach resolve Neoaves using target enrichment (sequence capture) and high-throughput sequencing ultraconserved elements (UCEs) genomes. collected sequence data from UCE loci for 32 members one outgroup (chicken) analyzed sets that differed their amount missing data. An alignment...
Avian diversification has been influenced by global climate change, plate tectonic movements, and mass extinction events. However, the impact of these factors on hyperdiverse perching birds (passerines) is unclear because family level relationships are unresolved timing splitting events among lineages uncertain. We analyzed DNA data from 4,060 nuclear loci 137 passerine families using concatenation coalescent approaches to infer a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis that clarifies all...
Comparative genetic studies of non-model organisms are transforming rapidly due to major advances in sequencing technology. A limiting factor these has been the identification and screening orthologous loci across an evolutionarily distant set taxa. Here, we evaluate efficacy genomic markers targeting ultraconserved DNA elements (UCEs) for analyses at shallow evolutionary timescales. Using sequence capture massively parallel generate UCE data five co-distributed Neotropical rainforest bird...
The gut microbiota of vertebrates are essential to host health. Most non-model vertebrates, however, lack even a basic description natural biodiversity. Here, we sampled 116 intestines from 59 Neotropical bird species and used the V6 region 16S rRNA molecule as microbial fingerprint (average coverage per ~80,000 reads). A core Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria was identified, well several gut-associated genera. We tested 18 categorical variables associated with each...
We present a new software package (HZAR) that provides functions for fitting molecular genetic and morphological data from hybrid zones to classic equilibrium cline models using the Metropolis-Hastings Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. The applies likelihood appropriate different types of data, including diploid haploid markers quantitative traits. modular design allows flexibility in varying complexity. To facilitate hypothesis testing, an autofit function is included automated...
Diversity does not drive speciation The role of the environment in origin new species has long been debated. Harvey et al. examined evolutionary history and diversity suboscine birds tropics (see Perspective by Morlon). Contrary to expectations that have higher rates speciation, authors observed more constant occur harsh environments relative tropics. Thus, for this group birds, diversification temperate Arctic regions followed movement retention results their local levels diversity. Science...
Despite the theoretical link between ecology and population genetics of species, little empirical evidence is available that corroborates association. Here, we examined genetic variation in 40 codistributed species lowland Neotropical rain forest birds have populations isolated on either side Andes, Amazon River, Madeira River. We found widely varying levels divergence among these taxa across same biogeographic barriers. Our investigation extent to which ecological traits predicted amount...
Several techniques, such as concatenation and consensus methods, are available for combining data from multiple loci to produce a single statement of phylogenetic relationships. However, when alleles sampled individual species, it becomes more challenging estimate relationships at the level either because inappropriate due conflicts among gene trees, or species which have been may not form monophyletic groups in estimated tree. We propose Bayesian hierarchical model reconstruct trees...
The Andean uplift played important roles in the historical diversification of Neotropical organisms, both by producing new high-elevation habitats that could be colonized and isolating organisms on either side mountains. Here, we present a molecular phylogeny Thamnophlius antshrikes, clade 30 species whose collective distribution spans nearly entirety lowland tropical South America, eastern slope foothills Andes, tepuis northern America. Our goal was to examine role Andes foothill species....
Visual signals are shaped by variation in the signaling environment through a process termed sensory drive, sometimes leading to speciation. However, evidence for drive acoustic is restricted comparisons between highly dissimilar habitats, or single-species studies which it difficult rule out influence of undetected ecological variables, pleiotropic effects, chance. Here we assess whether this form drive-often "acoustic adaptation"-can generate signal divergence across gradients. By studying...
Summary 1. Methods that assess patterns of phylogenetic relatedness, as well character distribution and evolution, allow one to infer the ecological processes involved in community assembly. Assuming niche conservatism, assemblages should shift from clustering evenness with decreasing geographic scale because relative importance mechanisms shape is hypothesized be scale‐dependent. Whereas habitat filtering more likely act at regional scales increased heterogeneity allows sorting ecologically...
Variable selection pressures across heterogeneous landscapes can lead to local adaptation of populations. The extent depends on the interplay between natural and gene flow, but nature this relationship is complex. Gene flow constrain by eroding differentiation driven selection, or itself through against maladapted immigrants. Here we test for evidence that constrains among populations a widespread passerine bird (Zonotrichia capensis) are distributed along an elevational gradient in Peruvian...
Using cline fitting and divergence population genetics, we tested a prediction of Haldane's rule: autosomal alleles should introgress more than z-linked or mitochondrial haplotypes across the Passerina amoena/Passerina cyanea (Aves: Cardinalidae) hybrid zone. We screened 222 individuals collected along transect in Great Plains North America that spans contact zone for (two genes), (four loci) markers. Maximum-likelihood widths estimated from (223 km) (309 datasets were significantly narrower...