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.