My research interests are broad and encompass parasite biodiversity, parasite biogeography and host-parasite coevolution. I examine these aspects of biology by focusing on the parasites of turtles and other reptiles and amphibians. Dr. Vasyl Tkach and I have been funded by the National Science Foundation to examine parasite biodiversity in Australian turtles. We are currently collecting parasites, identifying the few that are known, and describing the species that are new to science. As our biodiversity research proceeds we conduct evolutionary examinations of Australian turtle parasites and other turtle parasites from around the world. These evolutionary examinations use morphological, molecular and life history information and I am keenly interested in the role of hosts in driving parasite cladogenesis. My approach combines field work, microscopy, experimental biology and molecular techniques and is very amenable to student participation.

 

My favorite worms are the turtle blood flukes (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Spirorchiidae) that live as adults in the blood, lymphatic and nervous systems of turtles. As larvae these flukes are obligate parasites of snails. There are over 100 described species of these fascinating, fragile worms, yet the snail hosts are known for only three species. This lack of knowledge is typical of parasites with complex, multi host life cycles and makes comprehensive studies of coevolution in most host-parasite systems impossible. My lab is working to determine the life cycles of spirorchiid parasites and using molecular systematics to examine the evolutionary relationships both within the Spirorchiidae and among the spirorchiids and other flukes. The results of these studies will provide a unique and comprehensive view of parasite systematics, biogeography and evolution informative to other host-parasite systems.

 

I also collaborate with a number of researchers around the United States and the world to look at questions of parasites systematics, evolution and biodiversity. These collaborations all draw information from host and parasite life histories, DNA sequences, morphology and biogeography. A very incomplete list of collaborators follows:

 

·        Dr. Vasyl Tkach, University of North Dakota. Taxonomy, systematics and evolution of the digenean parasites of reptiles and amphibians.

·        Dr. Yuriy Kuzmin, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences. Taxonomy, systematics and evolution of rhabdiasid nematodes (with Dr. Tkach).

·        Dr. Michael Barger, Peru State College. Systematics and evolution of turtle Acanthocephala.