Research
My research interests encompass avian studies of population
genetics, speciation, hybridization, biogeography, systematics, and behavior. I
am particularly interested in elucidating the processes that result in the
genetic and morphological differentiation of populations, because, afterall,
these are the same forces that result in the differences we observe between
species at higher taxonomic levels. I also think it is important to place
genetic variation in the context of the actual birds that interact with the
environment and with each other. Hence, specimen-based studies of morphological
variation are an important component of my research program.
Current
research projects:
Comparative phylogeography of
Neotropical birds with cross-Andes distributions
Molecular systematics of a
Neotropical diversification: the ovenbirds and woodcreepers (Furnariidae)
Genetics of
evolution into high elevation Andean habitats
Rapid
speciation by sexual selection in Jamaican Streamertail Hummingbirds (Trochilus)
Adaptive
plumage color evolution in the Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus
caerulescens)
Speciation in
bearded manakins (Manacus)
Vocal and
plumage evolution in Thamnophilus antshrikes
19 November 2007