Phylogeography

PHYLOGEOGRAPHY

Phylogeography is the study of genetic variation within and among populations within a species. It is an incredibly powerful way to understand the evolutionary processes driving low-level diversification and speciation, and can reveal the response of species and populations to past geological and climatic events.

In my lab we have focused on phylogeographic relationships across several flightless, litter-inhabiting beetle lineages, including the rove beetle Dasycerus carolinensis, the weevil Eurhoptus pyriformis, and blind ground beetles in the genus Anillinus. These studies have revealed deep divisions among populations, and some common patterns in historical response to biogeographic features in the southern Appalachians. Publications on these are beginning to appear.

References:

Caterino, M.S. and S.S. Langton-Myers. (in press). Long-term population persistence of flightless weevils (Eurhoptus pyriformis) across old- and second-growth forests patches in southern Appalachia.BMC Evolutionary Biology.

Anderson, R.S. and Caterino, M.S. 2018. A revision of the genus Eurhoptus LeConte 1876 (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae) of America north of Mexico. ZooKeys 787: 37-80.(https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=26948)