Jim's primary research interests are in phylogenetics, biogeography, and comparative biology of reptiles, amphibians, and hummingbirds. His current research has three primary foci. The first involves application of phylogenetic and coalescent-based population genetic methods to Sulawesi biogeography. The second is a phylogenetic study of crotaphytid lizards, with an emphasis on the roles of introgressive hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting. Finally, he is investigating the history of high-altitude adaptation in hummingbirds, which involves species-level phylogenetics, analysis of the molecular evolution of hummingbird globin genes, and respiratory physiological studies across altitudinal gradients in the Andes and North America. See Jim's Research page for details.
Rollover - Jim checks a Sulawesi King Cobra for a heartbeat (just a baby - only 9 feet, 2 inches!)
Alison's research interests include both systematics and behavioral ecology of reptiles and amphibians. Her current research uses statistical phylogenetics to examine the role that color pattern polymorphism plays in the evolutionary dynamics of snake mimicry systems, focusing on strikingly polymorphic snakes in the genus Sonora from the southwestern US and Mexico. Her dissertation research with Barry Sinervo at UC Santa Cruz examined the kin dynamics and adaptive benefits of social aggregation in the Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis). Using field, molecular, and experimental approaches, she tested tested predictions about the origin and stability of social groups in vertebrates and quantified the fitness effects of facultative sociality and the physiological mechanism driving these benefits. See Alison's webpage for more information on her past and present research.
Rollover - Alison takes a closer look at a midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) while performing fieldwork in France
Shobi's research interests are primarily in the realm of conservation genetics. For her research, she is combining molecular systematics, evolutionary biogeography, and population genetics to identify the underlying processes affecting faunal assemblage in Indonesia, with an eye toward using that information to guide conservation policies. Shobi is focusing her current studies on several species of flying lizards (genus Draco) that occur on the Mentawai Archipelago and on adjacent Sumatra, but plans to expand her study system in the future to include other taxa and areas of Indonesia as well.
Dan is interested in the phylogeography of reptiles and amphibians in southern Africa. More specifically, he isinterested in how historical events and biogeographic barriers have affected the current spatial distribution of genes in areas poorly studied in this context. He plans to utilize rapidly evolving protein-coding nuclear markers to reconstruct phylogenies and conduct population clustering analyses to answer these types of questions. Dan's M.S. work focused on the phylogeography of two skink species distributed across Namibia and South Africa, and revealed the effects of specific life history characteristics (rupiculous vs. generalist species) on gene flow.
Sean is investigating the comparative biogeography of the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia using a combination of phylogenetic and population genetic tools to study a variety of focal taxa including the Draco boschmai/timoriensis complex, Lamprolepis smaragdina, Sphenomorphus florensis, and Limnonectes kadarsani. In the photo, Sean is on a ferry crossing the Alas Strait between Lombok and Sumbawa Islands
Guin is interested in (a) how spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity act to maintain genetic and phenotypic variation in natural systems, (b) estimating historical and contemporary demographics, and (c) detecting variable/cyclic selection. She currently is investigating an Asian frog species complex (Fejervarya limnocharis) using a multi-locus approach to understand patterns of gene flow and dispersal. Further, as there are thousands of preserved museum specimens in collections, she is examining phenotypic changes through time and across space to gain insight into the evolutionary processes maintaining polymorphism and promoting diversification. For more information, check out Guin's webpage.
Dr. Jackson is seen here examining a snake that mysteriously appeared in his carry-on luggage on a return trip from SE Asia. I believe he is consulting with Jim McGuire regarding proper identification of the specimen.
