NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2000

Rodriguez, Javier, Berkeley CA

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for 2000. The research and training plan is in the area of Population Biology and is entitled "Genetic Variation Among Populations of Amphibians and Reptiles from the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico". This research is a phylogeographic study of ten species of reptiles and amphibians endemic to the Carribbean island bank of Puerto Rico. Phylogeography consists of the principles and processes that govern the geographical distribution of genealogical lineages, especially those at the intraspecific level. Comparative mitochondrial DNA phylogeographic studies of the selected reptilian and amphibian species are being conducted in order to determine whether their current genetic structure has been predominantly influenced by older geological events and climatic changes versus more recent phenomena.