biology banner

CLFS_logo


A - Z

titleboxRICHARD HIGHTON titlebox

professor pictureProfessor Emeritus

email:rhighto1@umd.edu
phone:
301.405.6919 (office)
fax:301.314.9358
office:3262 Bio-Psych
graduate programs: Biology
bullet visit lab page   bullet most recent publications


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Systematics and Molecular Evolution Dr. Highton and his co-workers have studied many aspects of the population biology of salamanders of the genus Plethodon, including their ecological, geographical and genetic interactions, systematics, population genetics, evolution, behavior, and life histories. The genus is widespread in North America and has over 40 species, some with very restricted distributions. Recent studies have concentrated on an analysis of molecular evolution in the group using the technique of electrophoresis. The results have indicated the evolutionary relationships between species and between geographic populations within species. Genetic interactions between species such as hybridization also are revealed. Current studies on contact zones between parapatric species are indicating a correlation between the buildup of genetic distance during evolution and the extent of hybridization. In addition, studies on many other groups of North American amphibians and reptiles are underway. The fact that the products of structural genes, as studied by genetic techniques, evolve at much more constant rates than does morphology, makes it possible to use variation in molecular characters to better understand phylogenetic relationships. However, morphometric analysis of morphological variation also is being done on the large amount of material that has been obtained during the course of field work.

Representative Publications


Highton, R. 1995. Speciation in eastern North American salamanders of the genus Plethodon. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 26: 579-600.

Highton, R. 1998. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the Plethodon dorsalis complex. Herpetologica, 53: 345-356.

Highton, R. 1998. Frequency of hybrids between introduced and native populations of the salamander Plethodon jordani in their first generation of sympatry. Herpetologica, 54: 143-153.

Highton, R. 1999. Geographic protein variation and speciation in the salamanders of the Plethodon cinereus group with the description of two new species. Herpetologica, 55: 43-90.

Highton, R. and Peabody, R. 2000. Geographic protein variation and speciation in salamanders of the Plethodon jordani and Plethodon glutinosus complexes in the southern Appalachian Mountains with the description of four new species. Pp. 31-93. In R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck (Eds.). The Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. New York, NY.

Highton, R. 2000. Detecting cryptic species using allozyme data. Pp. 215-241. In R. C. Bruce, R. G. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck (Eds.). The Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. New York, NY.