White Sands pupfish ecological genetics
My primary research project involves a New Mexico state threatened species, the White Sands pupfish. I have used molecular markers (allozymes, mt-DNA sequences and microsatellites) to assess population structure of this rare species(Stockwell et al. 1998). Further, the introduced populations had undergone rapid evolutionary divergence from their parental population (Stockwell & Mulvey 1998; Stockwell et al. 1998; Collyer et al. 2005). Additional research in my lab focuses on parasite-hosts associations, morphological variation, life history variation and the potential impacts of exotic species (Collyer and Stockwell 2004; Rogowski and Stockwell 2006a, 2006b; Rogowski et al. 2006).

In 2000, I initiated a long-term experimental study funded by a Department of Defense Legacy grant to examine the response of White Sands pupfish to novel environmental conditions. We are currently monitoring phenotypic and genetic divergence in 6 experimental ponds. The intent is to assess divergence rates due to novel selection pressures (novel salinity and parasites).

This work has been funded by DOD Legacy Grants administered through Holloman AFB and through grants from North Dakota EPSCoR.

Additional information on White Sands pupfish.