Research
Most of my work is on nocturnal primates (prosimians), but I have studied other primates and organisms. My primary doctoral goal is to improve our understanding of prosimian evolution and adaptations. In the future, I want to continue studying the adaptive responses of primates to their environment through the use of genetics, behavior, and morphology.
Lorisidae Evolution
Our understanding of the Family Lorisidae (angwantibos, pottos, slender lorises, and slow lorises) evolution is limited. To improve our understanding of these primates, I take an integrative approach that involves genetics, museum measurements, and other morphological analyses (e.g. photograph analyses). Primarily, I am interested in exploring how coat color and patterns evolved within Lorisidae, and what genes influence these differences. This multi-method approach lets me begin to determine what influences these phenotypic, and possibly adaptive differences. In the future, I hope to examine coat variation in other primate species and incorporate an behavioral ecology research in order to address such questions as "does coat variation exist because of a nocturnal lifestyle, a form of signaling to conspecifics, or to deter predators?"
Phylogeny & Taxonomy
Much of my research has involved examining taxonomic differences of prosimians. Most notably I recognized three new species of slow lorises (Nycticebus) on Borneo. The Bornean loris research involved analyzing face mask differences, and their biogeography to discern species. I am now incorporating mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to further enhance our understanding of slow loris and Lorisidae evolution. Also, I have incorporated allometric analyses to detect subtle size differences in small-bodied prosimians, such as tarsiers and galagos.
Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
The majority of the world's primates are threatened. Work that focuses on understanding their behavioral ecology is needed for conservation efforts. My past work contributed to knowing the abundance of Bornean tarsiers and Bornean slow lorises in Sabah, Malaysia, as well as East Kalimantan. Additionally, my work in Sabah examined niche partitioning between tarsiers and lorises. Both these primates share similar niches, but reduce competition by favoring different heights in the canopy, as well as different forest densities.
Most of my work is on nocturnal primates (prosimians), but I have studied other primates and organisms. My primary doctoral goal is to improve our understanding of prosimian evolution and adaptations. In the future, I want to continue studying the adaptive responses of primates to their environment through the use of genetics, behavior, and morphology.
Lorisidae Evolution
Our understanding of the Family Lorisidae (angwantibos, pottos, slender lorises, and slow lorises) evolution is limited. To improve our understanding of these primates, I take an integrative approach that involves genetics, museum measurements, and other morphological analyses (e.g. photograph analyses). Primarily, I am interested in exploring how coat color and patterns evolved within Lorisidae, and what genes influence these differences. This multi-method approach lets me begin to determine what influences these phenotypic, and possibly adaptive differences. In the future, I hope to examine coat variation in other primate species and incorporate an behavioral ecology research in order to address such questions as "does coat variation exist because of a nocturnal lifestyle, a form of signaling to conspecifics, or to deter predators?"
Phylogeny & Taxonomy
Much of my research has involved examining taxonomic differences of prosimians. Most notably I recognized three new species of slow lorises (Nycticebus) on Borneo. The Bornean loris research involved analyzing face mask differences, and their biogeography to discern species. I am now incorporating mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to further enhance our understanding of slow loris and Lorisidae evolution. Also, I have incorporated allometric analyses to detect subtle size differences in small-bodied prosimians, such as tarsiers and galagos.
Behavioral Ecology and Conservation
The majority of the world's primates are threatened. Work that focuses on understanding their behavioral ecology is needed for conservation efforts. My past work contributed to knowing the abundance of Bornean tarsiers and Bornean slow lorises in Sabah, Malaysia, as well as East Kalimantan. Additionally, my work in Sabah examined niche partitioning between tarsiers and lorises. Both these primates share similar niches, but reduce competition by favoring different heights in the canopy, as well as different forest densities.
