The aim of our research is to understand the evolutionary processes, developmental mechanisms, and ecological contexts that generate morphological variation in vertebrates. As integrative biologists, we incorporate comparative anatomy, evolutionary developmental biology, phylogenetic comparative methods, and natural history to investigate organismal traits across several scales of biological organization. Our research has a strong emphasis on the biology of frogs, because with over 7,000 species and a world-wide distribution, anurans have extraordinary diversity that can be leveraged to study the form, function, and evolution of anatomical traits, providing key insights into the processes of phenotypic convergence, the re-evolution of lost traits, and the origin of evolutionary novelties. Some of the current projects in the lab are highlighted below. We collect data in the lab, in the field, and in natural history collections. Interested in learning more? Contact me at [email protected]!
Google Scholar ResearchGate GitHub
Google Scholar ResearchGate GitHub
Current projectsUncovering the Mechanisms of Convergent Tooth Loss in Frogs.
Whether organisms independently generate similar traits via similar underlying mechanisms is a fundamental question because the predictability and repeatability of evolutionary processes remain unknown. Teeth have been lost several times during the evolution of vertebrates, resulting in toothlessness, but is most widespread in frogs with over 20 independent losses. Investigations in toothless fishes, reptiles, and mammals have found that the tooth development program is not completely lost. These species maintain early molecular signaling and can develop transient tooth bud rudiments prior to the termination of the tooth development program that is disrupted via multiple pathways. We are characterizing the developmental-genetic basis of amphibian tooth formation and evaluating the mechanisms of convergent tooth loss in frogs. Developmental and Evolutionary Novelty in Tadpole Mouthparts
The mechanism by which novel phenotypic traits evolve in multicellular organisms is among the most important yet poorly understood phenomena in evolutionary biology. Tadpoles possess a highly modified head, typically including keratinized mouthparts composed of a beak and several rows of labial teeth (i.e., keratodonts, denticles). These complex structures play an important role in tadpole feeding—rasping plant material and detritus—and can vary dramatically in shape and size across species that differ in ecology. The development of the keratinized mouthparts in tadpoles is poorly understood and the evolutionary origin of these novel structures is also largely unknown. We are examining the development of tadpole mouthparts to identify the genes that govern the initiation, development, and replacement of these structures. We are also assessing the diversity, development, and function of other anuran feeding structures (e.g., tongue, taste buds, olfactory organs) through ontogeny and across species. Evolution of skull, skeleton, and osteoderm diversity
Our lab studies the skeletal diversity of vertebrates. These mineralized tissues are incredibly variable across species and represent excellent traits that can be visualized and quantified in order to test how evolutionary history, developmental contraints, and adaptation shape macroevolutionary patterns of phenotypic diversity. Current projects in the lab include:
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