PHYLOGENETIC METHODS

Phylogenetic analysis, the estimation of evolutionary trees, has become the cornerstone of evolutionary biology. In addition to their more traditional applications in evolutionary biology, molecular phylogenies (i.e., phylogenies that have been estimated from molecular data such as DNA sequences) are being applied to an ever-widening array of disciplines. These include biomedicine (e.g., tracing infection pathways for HIV and other pathogens), bioinformatics (e.g., genome evolution), and forensics (phylogenies estimated from HIV sequences have recently been allowed as evidence in murder trial). Because of this, the development and testing of phylogenetic methods assumes a position of critical importance and extremely broad relevance. Furthermore, the influx of molecular sequence data and the adoption of an explicitly statistical approach to data analysis have led to the requirement to refine methods of phylogenetic inference. You can see more detail by following this link.

COMPARATIVE PHYLOGEOGRAPHY

Our current empirical research is centered on comparative phylogeography, the phylogenetic study of the historical processes that have influenced geographic distributions in multiple, codistributed taxa. Two highland regions are being examined: Middle America and northwestern North America. Both these areas have been under-examined, and both are subject to intense, but very differently motivated exploitation and degradation of forest ecosystems. The general objectives of this research are to assess the influence of past geological and climatic events on the geographic structure of genetic variation in several codistributed highland forest species. You can read more details on comparative pylogeography by following this link.