Courses Taught Occasionally

BL 216/217 Human Biology & Lab
RCC 410H (previously CCS 300H) Honors Seminar: Chaos and Order
BL 495 Seminar in Biological Research Literature

Education

Ph.D. University of Kansas (Biology: Systematics and Ecology), 1998
B.S. University of Michigan (Biology), 1992

Research Interests

My primary areas of interest are the evolution of diversity of fishes (especially aulopiform and cyprinodontiform fishes), the anatomy and morphogenesis of fishes (again... especially the above two groups), the natural history and conservation of biodiversity, and .

The fishes commonly referred to as topminnows, killifishes, and "livebearers" comprise the Order Cyprinodontiformes.  These fishes typically live in shallow freshwaters, brackish waters, and (in a few cases) coastal marine environments from the temperate zone to the tropics. Approximately one third of the species in this order are viviparous ("livebearing") and give birth to free swimming young rather than laying eggs. My past work on the diversification of this group has included studies of the onesided livebearers and foureyed fishes (Family Anablepidae), the North American topminnows and killifishes (Family Fundulidae), and the livebearers (Family Poeciliidae).  Most of these studies have focused on recognzing and using morphological variation to infer the evolutionary history of the groups and explore patterns of evolution of  various characetristics in these groups (e.g., viviparity, salinity tolerance).

In addition to the work exploring evolution within cyprinodontiform fishes, I also am working on deep sea aulopiform fishes with M. P. Davis at the Field Museum of Natural History.  Specifically we currently are exploring light-producing organ morphology in barracudinas (Family Paralepididae) and diversification of the tripodfishes, spiderfishes, and relatives (Family Ipnopidae).

See Publications List. 

 

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10/18/12