FieldWork
Austin Lab Research Projects Around the World:
- Papua
New Guinea: Molecular phylogenetic, biochemical, and functional
morphology of the scincid genus Prasinohaema. Evolution of green
blood and adhesive
toepads in Pacific scincid lizards.
- Papua
New Guinea: Use of multiple genetic markers (mtDNA an nDNA
loci) to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of Pacific scincid lizards.
- Papua
New Guinea:
Association of plio-pleistocene mountain building in New Guinea with
molecular phylogeographic correlates in six vertebrate taxa. In collaboration
with Allen Allison (Bishop Museum) and Steve Donnellan and Lesley Rawlings
(both from the South Australian Museum).
- Sri
Lanka: Molecular phylogenetics of Lankascincus and
other Sri Lankan skinks.
In collaboration with Indraneil Das (Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental
Conservation Universiti Malaysia Sarawak).
- Vanuatu:
Molecular phylogeography of the terrestrial reptiles of Vanuatu. In collaboration
with Ali Jennings a PhD student in my lab.
- Australia:
Evolution of viviparity (live-bearing) in Saiphos equalis, an Australian
skink that is reproductively bi-modal. In collaboration with Sarah Smith (Villanova
University), and Rick Shine (University of Sydney).
- Japan:
Phylogenetic placement of the Japanese skink Ateuchosaurus
based on nuclear c-mos genetic markers. In collaboration with Hidetoshi Ota
(Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus).
- Polynesia
& Pacific Islands: Population structure and species boundaries
in the scincid genus Crytoblepharus In collaboration with George
Zug (Smithsonian). Molecular and Morphological Evolution in the south-central
Pacific scincid genus Emoia. In collaboration with George Zug (Smithsonian)
and Ali Jennings (LSUMNS).
- New
Caledonia : Systematics, population structure and phylogeography
of the highly endemic New Caledonia scincid lizards. In collaboration with
Aaron Bauer (Villanova University), Sarah Smith (Villanova University), Tod
Jackman (Villanova University) and Ross Saidler (Australian Museum).
- Micronesia:
Population structure and biogeography in the green tree skink Lamprolepis
in Micronesia.