Research FocusMy research focuses on answering questions about how urbanization affects native species living, surviving, or persisting in urban landscapes. I use genetic techniques and tools to help understand genetic connectivity and to assess underlying genetic variation in populations in urban habitats that are possibly isolated by human disturbance and development. I also use landscape genetic tools to understand genetic connectivity through the landscape and what natural or anthropogenic variables in the landscape may hinder or be conducive to gene flow.
I use amphibians, mainly stream salamanders, as a model to explore these questions, and look at populations of them remaining in densely urbanized areas in New York City and in the surrounding metropolitan area. My main focus is on how urbanization affects a common stream salamander; the Northern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata). Despite their ubiquity urbanization could have severe impacts on their ability to persist in stream habitats surrounded by dense urbanization. Considering how delicate the remaining habitat in urban ecosystems can be, I am also very interested in finding non-invasive sampling techniques to assess biodiversity and the presence of different species in urban environments. Therefore, I am currently developing methods utilizing eDNA (environmental DNA) taken from freshwater stream samples to assess the presence of the very common E. bislineata and the presence of a species thought to be declining in northeastern watersheds; the Northern Dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) on an urban-to-rural gradient within NYC to Dutchess County in upstate New York. |
Dusky and two-lined salamanders ready for processing
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