Research
My PhD research tests how gene flow and divergent selection contribute to patterns of microgeographic adaptation in the Island Scrub-jay. I integrated population genomics, field observation and landscape genetics methods to determine the genetic basis of adaptive phenotypic divergence of bill morphology; and the potential for non-random dispersal to determine the relative role of gene flow in maintaining microgeographic variation within a single population. This research will not only inform management decisions of one of North America’s most range restricted species, but also provides evidence demonstrating the diversifying (rather than homogenizing) effects of gene flow in nature.
I also love documenting cool natural history observations. Want to know more about Island Scrub-jay copulation behavior? Check out this paper!
I also love documenting cool natural history observations. Want to know more about Island Scrub-jay copulation behavior? Check out this paper!
The shape of nests and the substrate nests are placed on tend to be highly conserved in most bird species and radical changes in nest-site selection and construction are rare. However, a subspecies of Orange-crowned Warblers (Vermivora celata sordida) endemic to the California Channel Islands archipelago exhibits remarkable flexibility in nest-building behavior. Colorado State University post-bac Sarah Hays and I co-developed this project to investigate whether such plastic changes in nest placement result in predictable changes in nest construction.
Opossum shrimp (Mysis diluviana) were intentionally stocked by fisheries managers into dozens of lakes and reservoirs throughout North America in the mid-20th century. This policy led to the collapse of ecosystems and fisheries and serves as a harsh reminder that ignorance and overconfidence leads to poorly guided management practices. Yet how is it possible these shrimp have managed to thrive in novel environments following transplantation? I address this question using genomics tools to investigate patterns of genetic diversity, adaptive differentiation, and demographic history to determine if rapid adaptation has facilitated the success of introduced shrimp populations in Colorado. Find the answer here!
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A huge portion of my undergrad research focused on the live capture of Andean Torrent Ducks. These amazing animals live in elevations ranging from ~300 to over 4,000 meters above sea level! In Peru, this steep environmental gradient usually consists of a diverse variety of ecological and topographic conditions. Low‐altitude areas along the central coast consist of hot to mild arid deserts interspersed by lush river valleys and lomas (hills) that give way to very cold semi‐arid grasslands and glacier‐carved mountain valleys at higher elevations where hypoxia (low oxygen) is the main selective factor. In collaboration with multiple agencies including Centro de Ornitologia y Biodiversidad , University of Miami, McMaster University, and the University of British Columbia, we studied mitochondrial physiology, respiratory mechanics, ventilatory response, and feather structure to better understand how these birds and other species of waterfowl cope with the extreme conditions of high elevations.
Through my work with the University of Alaska Museum of the North, I examined divergence in the mitochondrial gene for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2, a marker used in other studies of regional endemism) in two additional coastal subspecies endemic to this region. The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus perobscurus) and Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias fannini). In both the hawk and heron genetic diversity in ND2 was remarkably low in contrast to that in mitochondrial genes in other species with regional endemics. Learn more here!
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