Seminar Dr. Patrick Edger, Michigan State University Contact: Dr. Michael McKain

Seminar Research Seminar - Dr. Todd Oakley, University of California, Santa Barbara "Taking the fork in the road: The origin of bioluminescence and the diversification of luminous courtship in ostracods " Bioluminescence is an ecologically impactful phenotype often used in communication, including courtship signals whose origins increase rates of speciation. Because bioluminescence is strongly influenced by few or even single genes, learning how those genes originate is critical for understanding how genetic changes impact diversification. One origin of bioluminescence occurred [...]

Making horseshoe crabs crabs again: Integrating data classes in the phylogenetic inference of ancient radiations The backbone phylogeny of Chelicerata--the subphylum of arthropods that includes spiders, mites, and horseshoe crabs--remains intractable to phylogenetic resolution, owing to a confluence of conflicting phylogenetic signal, long branch attraction artifacts, limitations in taxonomic sampling, and episodic extinction at the ordinal level. Salient sampling omissions in modern chelicerate phylogenies include the miniaturized orders Palpigradi and Schizomida, as well as Opilioacariformes, the sister group to the [...]

Contact: Dr. Kim Lackey

Contact: Dr. Paige Ferguson