Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
EVOLUTIONARY INSIGHTS FROM HOST-PARASITE INTERACTIONS: SYSTEMATICS, POPULATION GENETICS, AND COEVOLUTION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219893
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 24, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 23, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Research in the Light lab is focused on the evolution, systematics, and population genetics of vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. I investigate cospeciation between mammals and their parasites to determine which factors are important in driving the association between distantly related taxa. Many parasites have complex ecological interactions with their hosts that persist over long evolutionary timescales. Parasites that are highly host specific tend to interact with their hosts in ways that facilitate a long-term coevolutionary history (i.e., cospeciation), whereas parasites that are not host specific may not cospeciate with their hosts. Comparisons of host and parasite phylogenies facilitate a greater understanding of how taxa have been associated through time. Although topological comparisons offer a variety of ways to investigate host-parasite associations, they cannot distinguish between trees that are concordant as a result of cospeciation and trees that are concordant for reasons unrelated to cospeciation (i.e., pseudocospeciation events such as sequential colonization). This level of discrimination requires use of a combination of methods that compare not only topological similarities between host and parasite trees, but also timing of putative codivergence events. I therefore supplement my studies with estimates of divergence times in host and parasite lineages because these analyses provide a way to distinguish between cospeciation and other processes that could result in identical branching patterns in host and parasite trees. Tests of cospeciation also offer the possibility for comparisons of rates of molecular evolution to determine if parasites are evolving faster, slower, or at the same rate as their hosts. Fundamental biological differences, such as differences in generation time, metabolic rate, DNA base composition, mitochondrial gene order, and evolution of parasitic lifestyle, have all been suggested as possible causes of rate differences between organisms. Therefore, studies incorporating multiple methodologies, such as phylogenetic comparisons, estimates of divergence times, and comparisons of molecular rates, have the potential to elucidate broad evolutionary processes operating in distantly related taxa. In my research, I hope to learn how hosts and parasites interact through time and how these interactions are affected by the population dynamics and other microevolutionary processes of the associated taxa. Understanding these interactions at the population level can potentially help me understand what effects natural history and ecology have on evolutionary processes such as coevolution. Past research in the lab has focused on multiple mammal-parasite assemblages (pocket gophers and chewing lice, heteromyid rodents and sucking lice, and a three-tiered assemblage of primates, sucking lice, and endosymbiotic bacteria). In general, research in the Light Lab relies on field work and Museum specimens, and I utilize molecular and morphological data from these recent and ancient specimens to help elucidate broad evolutionary processes operating in distantly related taxa.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3150830106034%
3150830108033%
3150830111033%
Knowledge Area
315 - Animal Welfare/Well-Being and Protection;

Subject Of Investigation
0830 - Wild animals;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1110 - Parasitology; 1080 - Genetics;
Goals / Objectives
A large portion of the world's biodiversity is comprised of parasitic organisms and because parasites are dependent upon their hosts for survival, understanding how these organisms interact with their hosts can yield valuable information about evolutionary processes. Unfortunately, there have been few attempts to explore the ecological factors and microevolutionary (i.e., population) processes that shape host-parasite associations. Ecological factors and microevolutionary processes play a major role in parasite speciation and the establishment and maintenance of host-parasite associations. Therefore, understanding how hosts and parasites associate at lower (population) and higher (species and above) levels can be exceptionally revealing regarding evolutionary trends in distantly related organisms. At lower taxonomic levels, parasite population genetics can be influenced by parasite-specific factors (e.g., mode of reproduction, mating system, transmission ability, parasite life cycle, and extent of host specificity), host-specific factors (e.g., host mobility, vagility, and social behavior), and factors common to both symbiotic partners (e.g., effective population size, gene flow, selection, and genetic drift). Thus, a comprehensive knowledge of the population dynamics and structure of both hosts and parasites will help elucidate how ecological interactions can result in macroevolutionary patterns such as cospeciation. My previous research has examined three host-parasite systems that involve organisms with fundamentally different evolutionary backgrounds and life histories in an effort to determine the prevalence of cospeciation in mammal-parasite systems and to understand how symbiotic organisms have been associated through time. An opportunity to expand my expertise into a new realm (especially one that has received little attention) will allow me to develop a truly independent research program. Over the next five years, I will expand upon my previous research by exploring the population structuring and dynamics of mammals and their parasites (specifically, pocket gophers, heteromyids, and the lice that parasitize these mammals). Additionally, considering that approximately 1,250 species of mammals are parasitized by roughly 1,110 species of chewing or sucking lice, it is remarkable that only one mammal-louse association, that involving pocket gophers and their chewing lice, has been studied in depth from a macroevolutionary perspective. Therefore, I will also explore host associations and evolutionary patterns in other mammal-louse assemblages over the next five years, specifically Texas, Southwestern United States, Mexican, and African assemblages. OBJECTIVES: 1. Collect and inventory samples of mammals and their lice from Texas, the Southwestern United States, Mexico and Africa for genetic study 2. Develop molecular markers and determine relationships: within the host lineage and within the parasite lineage 3. Perform analyses comparing host and parasite data and develop hypotheses to determine the factors involved in generating host-parasite associations (macroevolutionary and microevolutionary patterns and processes)
Project Methods
Objective 1. Specimens will be collected in Texas, the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Africa. My physical location at Texas A&M University easily facilitates these collections as multiple species of pocket gophers and heteromyid rodents occur in Texas. Given the abundance of gophers and heteromyids (specifically the hispid pocket mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus) throughout Texas and western North America, collecting should be relatively easy once appropriate populations are identified. Additionally, my collaborations with Drs. Voelker and Marks will lead to collecting efforts in various African countries. All collecting work has the potential to yield new host-parasite systems to examine. Mammal specimens will be prepared as traditional museum voucher specimens, with associated tissue samples for genetic analysis. Ectoparasites also will be collected from all mammal specimens. These specimens will provide the core of the samples needed to address the outlined project; samples will also be obtained from museums in the U.S. and abroad. Objective 2. Laboratory work to develop phylogenies and population genetic data will follow standard DNA isolation and sequencing protocols. I will generate sequence data from various loci in the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA regions. Molecular data I will collect will include sequence data from fast-evolving mitochondrial markers. However, to truly advance my research, I must develop new laboratory techniques, specifically the identification of louse-specific molecular markers appropriate to assess population structure. I will use standard phylogenetic analysis programs to implement Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses of my data sets. Host and parasite data will be compared using a variety of cospeciation programs. I also will use various measures of genetic differences to assess population structure. Objective 3. The population structure of host and parasite species will be assessed and compared using the molecular data generated in Objective 2. With molecular data, I will examine population structuring at multiple spatial scales: on one host, on multiple hosts in one host population, and across hosts from different host populations for each parasite lineage. Similarly, for each host lineage, I will examine population structure within and among several populations. As stated in Objective 2, I will identify louse-specific molecular markers appropriate to assess population structure to advance my research. Once the appropriate molecular data are collected and in hand, I will address how host switching and effective population sizes affect population structuring, rates of molecular evolution, and probability of cospeciation. I will test whether large effective population size and restricted host switching promotes differentiation among chewing louse populations on individual hosts within a single locality. In this case, To undertake these analyses, I will use a combination of traditional population genetic analyses as well as analyses based on coalescent techniques to assess genetic variation, relatedness, migration rates, and past effective population sizes of hosts and parasites.

Progress 08/24/09 to 08/23/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences are students, peers, and the scientific community. Efforts include formal instruction at Texas A&M (WFSC 401, General Mammalogy; WFSC 302, Natural History of Vertebrates), professional presentations given, and educational activities at the WFSC Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (formerly the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project has trained: 2 postdoctoral researchers, 3 PhD students, 5 MS students (4 of which have graduated), and ~20 undergraduate students. All involved, including the PI, have participated in and/or attended multiple workshops, seminars, and conferences for additional opportunities to learn and apply new skills to the project research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through publications (20 to date) and presentations (13 invited, 4 participating talks, and 27 presented by students or peers) to the scientific community. Research findings have also been presented in a classroom setting associated with my undergraduate courses, and to the general community via public tours, seminars, etc. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Through the various publications, presentations, and various outreach opportunities afforded by this research, I was able to further my investigations of better-understanding host-parasite associations. I made substantial progress examining the population genetics of host and parasite systems, and I can say with certainly that my research has expanded into the realm of population genetics in general. I also have begun several reserach projects examining ecological associations between parasites and their hosts. All in all, the last 5 years has definitely seen my reserch move forward, and I expect this work will continue to expand in the future.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: J.J. Andersen*, D.S. Portnoy, J.C. Hafner, and J.E. Light. 2013. Populations at risk: conservation genetics of kangaroo mice (Microdipodops) of the Great Basin Desert. Ecology and Evolution 3: 2497-2513.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Light, J.E., J.C. Hafner, N.S. Upham, and E. Reddington. 2013. Conservation genetics of kangaroo mice, genus Microdipodops. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 20: 129-146.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: G. Voelker, B.D. Marks, C. Kahindo, U. Agenonga, F. Bapeamoni, L.E. Duffie**, J.W. Huntley*, E. Mulotwa, S.A. Rosenbaum**, and J.E. Light. 2013. River barriers and cryptic biodiversity in an evolutionary museum. Ecology and Evolution 3(3): 536-545.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Allen, J.M., C.O. Worman, J.E. Light, and D.L. Reed. 2013. Parasitic lice help to fill in the gaps of early hominid history. In Primates, Pathogens and Evolution. E. Pechenkina and J. Brinkworth (eds), Springer, pp. 161-186.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: C.E. Nessner, J.J. Andersen, M.A. Renshaw, M. Giresi, and J.E. Light. Characterization of 17 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mammal chewing louse Geomydoecus ewingi (Insecta: Phthiraptera) for population genetic analyses. In press at Journal of Parasitology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Welborn, S.R.* and J.E. Light. 2014. Population genetic structure of the Bairds pocket gopher, Geomys breviceps, in eastern Texas. Western North American Naturalist 74:325-334.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Andersen, J.J.*, M.A. Renshaw, and J.E. Light. 2012. Eight novel polymorphic microsatellites in the hispid pocket mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus) and cross-amplification in other Perognathinae species (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Conservation Genetics Resources 4: 1019-1021 DOI : 10.1007/s12686-012-9697-3.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Andersen, J.J.** and J.E. Light. 2012. Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Journal of Mammalogy 93: 1195-1215.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Demastes, J.W., T.A. Spradling, M.S. Hafner, G.R. Spies, D. J. Hafner, and J.E. Light. 2012. Cophylogeny on a fine scale: Geomydoecus chewing lice and their pocket gopher hosts, Pappogeomys bulleri. Journal of Parasitology 98: 262-270.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Welborn, S.R.*, M.A. Renshaw, and J.E. Light. 2012. Characterization of 10 polymorphic loci in the Bairds pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps) and cross-amplification in other gopher species. Conservation Genetics Resources 4: 467-469.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Voelker, G. and J.E. Light. 2011. Paleoclimatic events, dispersal and migratory losses along the Afro-European axis as drivers of biogeographic distribution in Sylvia warblers. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11: 163.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Smith, V.S., T. Ford, K.P. Johnson, P.C.D. Johnson, K. Yoshizawa, and J.E. Light. 2011. Multiple lineages of lice pass through the K-Pg boundary. Biology Letters 7: 782-785.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Toups, M.A.*, A. Kitchen*, J.E. Light, and D.L. Reed. 2011. Genetic analysis of human head and clothing lice indicates an early origin of clothing use in archaic hominins. Molecular Biology and Evolution 28: 29-32.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Lance, S.L., J.E. Light, K.L. Jones, C. Hagen, and J.C. Hafner. 2010. Isolation and characterization of 17 polymorphic loci in the kangaroo mouse, genus Microdipodops (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Conservation Genetics Resources 2: 139-141.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Light, J.E., V.S. Smith, J.M. Allen*, L.A. Durden, and D.L. Reed. 2010. Evolutionary history of mammalian sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura). BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 292 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-292
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Musser, G.G., L.A. Durden, M.E. Holden, and J.E. Light. 2010. Systematic review of endemic Sulawesi squirrels (Rodentia, Sciuridae), with descriptions of new species of associated sucking lice (Insecta, Anoplura), and phylogenetic and zoogeographic assessments of sciurid lice. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 339: 260 pages.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Allen, J.M.*, J.E. Light, M.A. Perotti, H.R. Braig, and D.L. Reed. 2009. Mutational meltdown in primary endosymbionts: Selection limits M�llers ratchet. PLoS ONE 4(3): e4969.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Hafner, M.S., D.J. Hafner, J.W. Demastes, G.L. Hasty, J.E. Light, and T.A. Spradling. 2009. Evolutionary relationships of pocket gophers of the genus Pappogeomys (Rodentia: Geomyidae). Journal of Mammalogy 90(1): 47-56.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Light, J.E. and D.L. Reed. 2009. Multigene analysis of phylogenetic relationships and divergence times in primate sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50: 376-390.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Light, J.E., J.M. Allen*, L.M. Long**, T.E. Carter**, L. Barrow**, G. Suren, D. Raoult, and D.L. Reed. 2008. Geographic distribution of human head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) mitochondrial lineages. Journal of Parasitology 94(6): 1275-1281.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: J.R. Rodriguez*, S.A. Hamer, A.A. Castellanos*, and J.E. Light. Structure and ecology of a rodent and tick community in east-central Texas. In review at Southeastern Naturalist.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences are students, peers, and the scientific community. Efforts include formal instruction at Texas A&M (WFSC 401, General Mammalogy; WFSC 302, Natural History of Vertebrates), professional presentations given, and educational activities at the WFSC Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (formerly the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? In 2013, I mentored 3 Master’s students, 3 PhD students, and one rotating PhD genetics students. All students are working on, or will work on, projects that will contribute direction to the goals and objectives of my five-year plan. Caitlin Nessner is a MS student and she joined my lab in Fall 2011. Prior to enrolling as a graduate student, she was a volunteer working on chewing louse genetics. As a graduate student, Caitlin is expanding upon her undergraduate work by focusing on fast-evolving microsatellite markers in lice. To perform this work, Caitlin built microsatellite libraries resulting in 17 loci for use in chewing lice (Nessner et al. in review). Over the last year, Caitlin has collected a substantial amount of microsatellite data. With these data, Cailtin is planning a December 2013 defense date to graduate in May 2014. Caitlin also is involved with several side projects and I expect her time spent at Texas A&M will result in at least 3 publications. Jaime Rodriguez is a MS student and he joined my lab in Fall 2012. Jaime is co-advised with Dr. Sarah Hamer in VIBS on a disease ecology project (tracking ticks and tick-borne pathogens on small mammals). He has collected a substantial amount of data in the field and in the lab over the last year and field work will be completed in November 2013. Jaime is on track to graduate in May or August 2014. My new MS student, Aleyda Galan, will be working on a biodiversity assessment of mammals and their parasites in South Texas. Aleyda began collecting field data over the summer of 2013. My PhD students (Adrian Castellanos, Whitney Preisser, Oona Takano, and rotating genetics student Wesley Brashear) joined my lab in August 2013. Their dissertation projects will have something to do with mammal phylogeography and/or host-parasite associations. During 2013, I mentored two undergraduate students in the lab, both of whom examined genetics of either pocket gophers or their lice. I am a committee member for a total of 7 MS and PhD students. I continued my own research and collaborations with students and other colleagues by working on several manuscripts and I undertook research trips to collect specimens for my research in and around College Station. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? In 2013, I did not present any talks. However, my Master’s students Caitlin Nessner and Jaime Rodriguez presented their work at a total of 4 conferences (Caitlin presented 4 times and Jaime presented twice). Three papers were published, 1 one back chapter, and three papers are in review. Efforts include formal instruction at Texas A&M (WFSC 401, General Mammalogy; WFSC 302, Natural History of Vertebrates), professional presentations given, and educational activities at the WFSC Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (formerly the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue performing research as I've been doing, forming new collaborations, and publishing my findings.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Over the last year, funding provided from Hatch has facilitated changes in knowledge and action. Hatch funding has facilitated all laboratory work. Interpretation of results from laboratory work has allowed in a change in knowledge regarding species relationships. We now better understand the population genetics, phylogeography, and species evolution in three rodent groups and one louse group: Microdipodops (Andersen et al. 2013), Geomys breviceps (Welborn and Light in review), Baiomys taylori (Light and Ostroff in preparation), and Geomydoecus ewingi (Nessner et al. in review). This knowledge will allow us to continue our research on these species (and their parasites), which will include grant proposals for additional funding. We also are gaining a better understanding of disease ecology with new research examining tick-borne pathogens on small mammals (in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Hamer, VIBS), specifically examining the interaction among invasive fire ants, small mammals, ticks, and tick-borne pathogens (recently funded research from Texas Ecolabs and the Texas A&M University Invasive Ant Research and Management Project). In collaboration with Drs. Toby Hibbitts and Gary Voelker, we were recently funded by the East Wildlife Foundation to examine terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity in south Texas. My lab group and collaborations are in the process of facilitating a change in knowledge for population dynamics of pocket gophers and their chewing lice. Data collected in the lab are allowing a better understanding of how both gopher and louse individuals are related to each other within and among populations. We have successfully identified and published microsatellite markers to be used in pocket gophers (Welborn et al. 2012) and their chewing lice (Nessner et al. in review) and we are currently in the process of identifying markers in two other species. We have also identified locality sites for future field work. Similarly, genetic data are helping us better understand the identity and relationships of lice parasitizing understory birds in the Congo and South Africa. All changes in knowledge are continuing to the present data, and findings will be used in manuscripts (several in preparation) and grant proposals. All members of the Light lab have individually experienced changes in knowledge over the last year. Attendance and meetings and student presentations have allowed me to interact with others and gain new information and skills, which I can apply to my research. Student changes in knowledge have been similar. For example, helping one undergraduate student decide she wanted to go to graduate school and graduate students working with each other and undergraduate students to facilitate training of molecular techniques, reviewing each others presentations and manuscripts, etc. Interpretation of molecular data collected in the lab also has facilitated a change in action. We are determining that additional and improved techniques will be needed to answer the questions that we have. These new methods and techniques include microsatellite design and genotypes. With Hatch funding, we have already begun to undertake these techniques. Data collected over the last year have been used on 2 National Science Foundation (NSF) pre-proposal submitted in January 2013 (not funded) and 1 NSF CAREER proposal submitted in July 2013 (not funded). These, and new, data will be used in 2 NSF pre-proposals that will be submitted in January 2014, one NSF CAREER proposal in July 2014, and at hopefully at least 1 full proposal in July 2013.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: J.J. Andersen*, D.S. Portnoy, J.C. Hafner, and J.E. Light. 2013. Populations at risk: conservation genetics of kangaroo mice (Microdipodops) of the Great Basin Desert. Ecology and Evolution 3: 2497-2513.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Light, J.E., J.C. Hafner, N.S. Upham, and E. Reddington. 2013. Conservation genetics of kangaroo mice, genus Microdipodops. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 20: 129-146.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: G. Voelker, B.D. Marks, C. Kahindo, U. Agenonga, F. Bapeamoni, L.E. Duffie**, J.W. Huntley*, E. Mulotwa, S.A. Rosenbaum**, and J.E. Light. 2013. River barriers and cryptic biodiversity in an evolutionary museum. Ecology and Evolution 3(3): 536-545.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Allen, J.M., C.O. Worman, J.E. Light, and D.L. Reed. 2013. Parasitic lice help to fill in the gaps of early hominid history. In Primates, Pathogens and Evolution. E. Pechenkina and J. Brinkworth (eds), Springer, pp. 161-186.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: C.E. Nessner, J.J. Andersen, M.A. Renshaw, M. Giresi, and J.E. Light. Characterization of 17 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mammal chewing louse Geomydoecus ewingi (Insecta: Phthiraptera) for population genetic analyses. In review at Journal of Parasitology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: A. Castellanos, D.M. Brooks, J. Young, and J.E. Light. Rodent diversity at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Southeast Texas) during a drought year. In review at Western North American Naturalist.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: S.R. Welborn and J.E. Light. Population genetic structure of the Bairds pocket gopher, Geomys breviceps, in eastern Texas. In review at Western North American Naturalist


Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Laboratory Activities and Student Mentoring: In 2012, I mentored 4 Master's students. All four worked or are working on projects that will contribute direction to the goals and objectives of my five-year plan. John Andersen's MS thesis investigated the population genetics of kangaroo mice from the Great Basin Desert of western North America. John had been a member of my lab since 2009. His time was well spent with one large manuscript recently published at the Journal of Mammalogy (Andersen and Light 2012), a primer note in Conservation Genetics Resources (Andersen et al. 2012), a manuscript in review at Molecular Ecology (Andersen et al. in review), and two others in preparation (development of microsatellite markers for a variety of species). John defended his thesis and graduated Spring semester 2012. Sarah's MS thesis explored population genetics of the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps). Sarah collected ca. 50 gopher individuals from around College Station, obtained DNA from all samples, and compared microsatellite and mitochondrial data from a population genetic. During 2010 and 2011, she built several microsatellite libraries and published on her findings in Conservation Genetics Resources (Welborn et al. 2012). Sarah defended her thesis and graduate August 2012 and this work is currently in preparation to submit to The Southwestern Naturalist. Caitlin Nessner joined my lab in Fall 2011. Prior to enrolling as a graduate student, she was a volunteer working on chewing louse genetics. As a graduate student, Caitlin is expanding upon her undergraduate work by focusing on fast-evolving microsatellite markers in lice. To perform this work, Caitlin built microsatellite libraries resulting in ~14 loci for use in chewing lice (work is in preparation to submit in early 2013). Over the last year, Caitlin has collected a substantial amount of microsatellite data. She will complete data collection in the next 6 months and is on track to graduate December 2013. Caitlin also is involved with several side projects and I expect her time spent at Texas A&M will result in at least 3 publications. Jaime Rodriguez joined my lab in Fall 2012. Jaime is co-advised with Dr. Sarah Hamer in VIBS on a disease ecology project (tracking ticks and tick-borne pathogens on small mammals). Jaime also is working on a pocket gopher microsatellite project. He was spent substantial time in the lab this semester and I expect him to graduate in May 2014. During 2012, I mentored four undergraduate students in the lab, all of whom examined genetics of either pocket gophers or their lice. I am a committee member for several MS and PhD students. I continued my own research and collaborations with students and other colleagues by working on several manuscripts and I undertook research trips to collect specimens for my research in and around College Station. Conferences, Talks, Workshops: In 2012, I gave 3 invited talks at 1) Louisiana State University, 2) Purdue University, and 3) Texas A&M University. My Master's student Caitlin Nessner presented her work at the 2012 Evolution meetings in Ottawa, Canada (I was a co-author on this presentation). PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Over the last year, funding provided from Hatch has facilitated changes in knowledge and action. Hatch funding has facilitated all laboratory work. Interpretation of results from laboratory work has allowed in a change in knowledge regarding species relationships. We now better understand the population genetics, phylogeography, and species evolution of three rodent groups: Microdipodops (Light et al. 2012, Andersen et al. in review), Chaetodipus hispidus (Andersen and Light 2012) and Baiomys taylori (Light and Ostroff in preparation). This knowledge will allow us to continue our research on these species (and their parasites), which will include grant proposals for additional funding. We also are gaining a better understanding of disease ecology with new research examining tick-borne pathogens on small mammals (in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Hamer, VIBS). We are in the process of facilitating a change in knowledge for population dynamics of pocket gophers and their chewing lice. Data collected in the lab are allowing a better understanding of how both gopher and louse individuals are related to each other within and among populations. We have successfully identified and published microsatellite markers to be used in pocket gophers (Welborn et al. 2012) and their chewing lice (Nessner et al. in prep) and we are currently in the process of identifying markers in two other species. We have also identified locality sites for future field work. Data collected so far have been used on 1 National Science Foundation (NSF) pre-proposal submitted in January 2012 (not funded) and 1 NSF CAREER proposal submitted in July 2012 (not funded). These, and new, data will be used in 2 NSF pre-proposals that will be submitted in January 2013 and at least 1 full proposal in July 2013. Similarly, genetic data are helping us better understand the identity and relationships of lice parasitizing hispid cotton mice as well as lice parasitizing understory birds in the Congo. All changes in knowledge are continuing to the present data, and findings will be used in manuscripts (several in preparation) and grant proposals (1 NSF pre-proposal submitted in January 2012; not funded). All members of the Light lab have individually experienced changes in knowledge over the last year. Invited seminars and University/Department seminars have allowed me to interact with others and gain new information and skills, which I can apply to my research. Student changes in knowledge have been similar. For example, helping one undergraduate student decide she wanted to go to graduate school and graduate students working with each other and undergraduate students to facilitate training of molecular techniques, reviewing each others presentations and manuscripts, etc. Interpretation of molecular data collected in the lab also has facilitated a change in action. We are determining that additional and improved techniques will be needed to answer the questions that we have. These new methods and techniques include microsatellite design and genotypes. With Hatch funding, we have already begun to undertake these techniques.

Publications

  • J.J. Andersen*, M.A. Renshaw, and J.E. Light. 2012. Eight novel polymorphic microsatellites in the hispid pocket mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus) and cross-amplification in other Perognathinae species (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Conservation Genetics Resources 4: 1019-1021 DOI : 10.1007/s12686-012-9697-3
  • Light, J.E., J.C. Hafner, N.S. Upham, and E. Reddington. 2012. In press. Conservation genetics of kangaroo mice, genus Microdipodops. Journal of Mammalian Evolution DOI: 10.1007/s10914-012-9193-2
  • Andersen, J.J.** and J.E. Light. 2012. Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Journal of Mammalogy 93: 1195-1215.
  • Demastes, J.W., T.A. Spradling, M.S. Hafner, G.R. Spies, D. J. Hafner, and J.E. Light. 2012. Cophylogeny on a fine scale: Geomydoecus chewing lice and their pocket gopher hosts, Pappogeomys bulleri. Journal of Parasitology 98: 262-270.


Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Laboratory Activities and Student Mentoring: In 2011, I mentored 3 Master's students: Sarah Welborn, John Andersen (both continuing students), and Caitlin Nessner (a new student who began Fall 2011). All three are working on projects that will contribute direction to the goals and objectives of my five-year plan. Sarah's MS thesis is exploring population genetics of the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps). Sarah has already collected ca. 50 gopher individuals from around College Station and is currently collecting molecular data from these specimens. During 2010 and 2011, she built several microsatellite libraries and published on her findings in Conservation Genetics Resources. Sarah successfully presented her research at the annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Sarah will defend her thesis and graduate Spring semester 2012. John Andersen's MS thesis is investigating the population genetics of kangaroo mice from the Great Basin Desert of western North America. John has been a member of my lab since 2009. His time was well spent with one large manuscript in press at the Journal of Mammalogy and three others in preparation (development of microsatellite markers for a variety of species). John successfully presented his research at the annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. John has made substantial progress in one year and he will defend his thesis and graduate Spring semester 2012. Caitlin Nessner joined my lab in Fall 2011. Prior to enrolling as a graduate student, she was a volunteer working on chewing louse genetics. As a graduate student, Caitlin will expand upon her undergraduate work by focusing on fast-evolving microsatellites. To perform this work, Caitlin helped to build microsatellite libraries and this work will result in at least two publications. Caitlin has progressed immensely over the last three months and I expect she will graduate in two years. During 2011, I mentored four undergraduate students in the lab, all of whom examined genetics of either pocket gophers or their lice. As a committee member, I traveled to New York City in April 2011 to participate in the defense of Anna Phillips. She received her PhD and is now a post-doc at the University of Connecticut. I continued my own research and collaborations with students and other colleagues by traveling to Kansas and Oklahoma to examine museum specimens (this research is now in press at Journal of Mammalogy) and undertook several research trips to collect specimens for my research. Most of these research trips were in and around College Station. However, one was at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch and another was at a private property in Hays County. Conferences, Talks, Workshops: In 2011, I gave 1 invited talk as part of the Evolutionary Studies seminar series at Binghamton University in New York. My Master's students, Sarah Welborn and John Andersen, both gave oral presentations at The American Society of Mammalogists annual meeting in Portland (I was a co-author on these presentations). I attended the 2011 Texas Society of Mammalogists and American Society of Mammalogists annual meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: 1) Jessica E. Light (PI). PI is involved in all aspects of the project from project design to publication. 2) Sarah R. Welborn (MS Student). Welborn is examining population genetics of the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps). She is using molecular data (mitochondrial genes and microsatellite markers) to examine relationships within and among populations distributed in College Station, TX. 3) John J. Andersn (MS Student). Andersen is examining Chaetodipus phylogeography, louse population genetics (microsatellite markers), and population genetics of kangaroo mice (using microsatellite markers). 4) Caitlin Nessner (MS student). Nessner is using molecular data (mitochondrial genes and microsatellite markers) to examine relationships of the chewing lice that live on pocket gophers. She will examine population structure of lice on 1 gopher, across gophers at 1 locality, and across gophers and localities. 5) Four undergraduate volunteers worked in the lab in 2010. Although none of these students were paid, they all volunteered their time to help gather data on various projects. Collaborators and contacts: Over the last year, I have collaborated with several researchers at Texas A&M (WFSC faculty such as Gary Voelker and WFSC staff such as Ben Marks). I am also collaborating with individuals from other institutions to gather data for shared-interest projects (Russell Pfau at Tarleton State, Jim Demastes at University of Northern Iowa, and Theresa Spradling at University of Northern Iowa). I also consider collaborators to be all co-authors on past and upcoming manuscripts and research proposals. Training or professional development: Three graduate students and a total of nine undergraduate students have been trained as part of this project. Involvement in the ongoing research in the Light lab has allowed all participants to grow professionally and especially help students determine their career paths. Individuals in the community have also learned about research going on in the Light lab by professional presentations. TARGET AUDIENCES: Efforts include formal instruction at Texas A&M (WFSC 401, General Mammalogy; WFSC 302, Natural History of Vertebrates), professional and invited presentations given (1 at Binghamton University), and educational activities at the WFSC Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Over the last year, funding provided from Hatch has facilitated changes in knowledge and action. Hatch funding has facilitated all laboratory work as well as payment for a graduate student over the summer. Interpretation of results from laboratory work has allowed in a change in knowledge regarding species relationships. We now better understand the phylogeography and species evolution of two rodent species: Chaetodipus hispidus (Andersen and Light, in press) and Baiomys taylori (Light and Ostroff, in preparation). This knowledge will allow us to continue our research on these species (and their parasites), which will include grant proposals for additional funding. We are also in the process of facilitating a change in knowledge for population dynamics of pocket gophers and their chewing lice. Data collected in the lab are allowing a better understanding of how both gopher and louse individuals are related to each other within and among populations. We have successfully identified and published microsatellite markers to be used in pocket gophers (Welborn et al. 2011) and we are currently in the process of identifying markers in three other species (one rodent, Chaetodipus hispidus, and two louse species). We have also identified locality sites for future field work. Data collected so far have been used on 1 National Science Foundation pre-proposal submitted in January 2012. Similarly, genetic data are helping us better understand the identity and relationships of lice parasitizing hispid cotton mice as well as lice parasitizing understory birds in the Congo. All changes in knowledge are continuing to the present data, and findings will be used in manuscripts (several in preparation) and grant proposals (1 National Science Foundation pre-proposals submitted in January 2012). All members of the Light lab have individually experienced changes in knowledge over the last year. Invited seminars and University/Department seminars have allowed me to interact with others and gain new information and skills, which I can apply to my research. Student changes in knowledge have been similar. For example, helping one undergraduate student decide she wanted to go to graduate school and graduate students working with each other and undergraduate students to facilitate training of molecular techniques, reviewing each others presentations and manuscripts, etc. Interpretation of molecular data collected in the lab also has facilitated a change in action. We are determining that additional and improved techniques will be needed to answer the questions that we have. These new methods and techniques include microsatellite design and genotypes. With Hatch funding, we have already begun to undertake these techniques.

Publications

  • Welborn, S.R., Renshaw, M.A., and Light, J.E. (2011). Characterization of 10 polymorphic loci in the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps) and cross-amplification in other gopher species. Conservation Genetics Resources doi 10.1007/s12686-011-9576-3.
  • Voelker, G., and Light, J.E. (2011). Paleoclimatic events, dispersal and migratory losses along the Afro-European axis as drivers of biogeographic distribution in Sylvia warblers. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11: 163.
  • Smith, V.S., Ford, T., Johnson, K.P., Johnson, P.C.D., Yoshizawa, K., and Light, J.E. (2011). Multiple lineages of lice pass through the K-Pg boundary. Biology Letters 7: 782-785.
  • Toups, M.A., Kitchen, A., Light, J.E., and Reed, D.L. (2011). Genetic analysis of human head and clothing lice indicates an early origin of clothing use in archaic hominins. Molecular Biology and Evolution 28: 29-32. (**NOTE that this publication was available online in 2010, thus reported in 2010. But it appeared on paper in 2011**)
  • Andersen, J.J., Hafner, J.C., and Light, J.E. 2011. Population dynamics of the pallid kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops pallidus. Program and Abstract Book of the Ninety-first Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Portland, Oregon.
  • Welborn, S.R., and Light, J.E. 2011. Population genetic analyses of the Baird's pocket gopher, Geomys breviceps. Program and Abstract Book of the Ninety-first Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Portland, Oregon.


Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The narrative below covers activity from 2009 (no annual report was required for 2009); Laboratory Activities and Student Mentoring: Upon arriving at Texas A&M, I set up my laboratory to begin molecular work. Beginning summer 2009, I trained two undergraduate students in the lab: John Andersen and Marcy Ostroff. Both students undertook independent research projects examining phylogeography of rodent species with distributions in Texas: the hispid pocket mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus) and the northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori), respectively. These projects were designed to contribute to the goals and objectives of my five-year plan by exploring the population structuring and dynamics of mammals and their parasites. Both projects are nearing completion and will be submitted to scientific journals this year. Based on our findings, I hope to continue to work with both rodent species and their parasites. Fall semester 2009, Master's Student Sarah Welborn joined my lab. Sarah's MS thesis will be exploring population genetics of the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps). This work will directly contribute to the goals and objectives of my five-year plan. Sarah has already collected ca. 50 gopher individuals from around College Station and is currently collecting molecular data from these specimens. Sarah also collected the chewing lice from these gophers. With the help of four undergraduate students in the laboratory (beginning Spring 2010), data collection for both gophers (J. Garner) and lice (C. Nessner, M. Gonzalez, and S. Rosenbaum) has been consistent. I expect to submit a large proposal to the National Science Foundation summer 2011. Fall semester 2010, Master's Student John Andersen joined my lab. After working with me as an undergraduate, John decided he wanted to further his education. John is involved in several projects in the lab including working on developing microsatellite markers for the chewing lice parasitizing gophers. For his MS thesis, John will investigate the population genetics of kangaroo mice from the Great Basin of western North America. Other projects currently ongoing in the lab include: molecular examination of sucking lice on hispid cotton mice (Sigmodon hispidus; in collaboration with Tarleton University) and chewing lice parasitizing understory birds in the Congo Basin. Conferences, Talks, Workshops: In 2009, I gave 3 invited talks and I presented research in poster format at the International Mammalogical Congress in Mendoza, Argentina. I also presented research and mammal information two times to the Texas Master Naturalists. In 2010, I gave 3 invited talks and presented research at the Texas A&M Zoological Society. In June 2010, the Light lab (myself & 3 students) traveled to The American Society of Mammalogists annual meeting in Wyoming. Two students (Andersen and Ostroff, see above) presented posters of their research at the meetings. Lastly, during 2009 and 2010, I attended a CAREER training seminar, took a short class in "Learning to use R", served on a National Science Foundation Funding Panel, and contributed to "Parasite of the Day" Biodiversity Website (http://dailyparasite.blogspot.com/). PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: 1) Jessica E. Light (PI). PI is involved in all aspects of the project from project design to publication. 2) Sarah R. Welborn (MS Student). Welborn is examining population genetics of the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps). She is using molecular data (mitochondrial genes and microsatellite markers) to examine relationships within and among populations distributed in College Station, TX 3) John J. Andersn (MS Student). Andersen is examining Chaetodipus phylogeography, louse population genetics (microsatellite markers), and population genetics of kangaroo mice (using microsatellite markers). 4) Marcy Ostroff (undergraduate student). Ostroff examined the phylogeography of Baiomys, the northern pygmy mouse. Ostroff graduated in Spring 2010, but is still involved in the research. 5) Four undergraduate volunteers worked in the lab in 2010. Although none of these students were paid, they all volunteered their time to help gather data on various projects. Collaborators and contacts: Over the last year, I have collaborated with several researchers at Texas A&M (WFSC faculty such as Gary Voelker and WFSC staff such as Ben Marks). I am also collaborating with individuals from other institutions to gather data for shared-interest projects (Russell Pfau at Tarleton State, Jim Demastes at University of Northern Iowa, and Theresa Spradling at University of Northern Iowa). I also consider collaborators to be all co-authors on past and upcoming manuscripts and research proposals. Training or professional development: Two graduate students and a total of five undergraduate students have been trained as part of this project. Involvement in the ongoing research in the Light lab has allowed all participants to grow professionally and especially help students determine their career paths. Individuals in the community have also learned about research going on in the Light lab by professional presentations. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences are students, peers, and the scientific community. Efforts include formal instruction at Texas A&M (WFSC 401, General Mammalogy), professional and invited presentations given (4 in 2009 and 5 in 2010), educational lectures given to the Texas Master Naturalists and other groups at the WFSC Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, and blog posts at "Parasite of the Day". PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Over the last year, funding provided from Hatch has facilitated changes in knowledge and action. Hatch funding has facilitated all laboratory work as well as payment for some undergraduate students. Interpretation of results from laboratory work has allowed in a change in knowledge regarding species relationships. We now better understand the phylogeography and species evolution of two rodent species: Chaetodipus hispidus and Baiomys taylori. This knowledge will allow us to continue our research on these species (and their parasites), which will include grant proposals for additional funding. We are also in the process of facilitating a change in knowledge for population dynamics of pocket gophers and their chewing lice. Data collected in the lab are allowing a better understanding of how both gopher and louse individuals are related to each other within and among populations. Similarly, genetic data are helping us better understand the identity and relationships of lice parasitizing hispid cotton mice as well as lice parasitizing understory birds in the Congo. All changes in knowledge are continuing to the present data, and findings will be used in upcoming grant proposals. All members of the Light lab have individually experienced changes in knowledge over the last year. Training courses and seminars have allowed me to interact with others and gain new information and skills, which I can apply to my research. Student changes in knowledge have been similar (for example, helping one undergraduate student decide he wanted to go to graduate school). Interpretation of molecular data collected in the lab also has facilitated a change in action. We are determining that additional and improved techniques will be needed to answer the questions that we have. These new methods and techniques include microsatellite design and genotypes. With Hatch funding, we have already begun to undertake these techniques.

Publications

  • Toups, M.A., Kitchen, A., Light, J.E., and Reed, D.L. (2011). Genetic analysis of human head and clothing lice indicates an early origin of clothing use in archaic hominins. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 28: 29-32. (this publication was available online beginning October 2010)
  • Lance, S.L., Light, J.E., Jones, K.L., Hagen, C., and Hafner, J.C. (2010). Isolation and characterization of 17 polymorphic loci in the kangaroo mouse, genus Microdipodops (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). Conservation Genetics Resources, 2: 139-141.
  • Light, J.E., Smith, V.S., Allen, J.M., Durden, L.A., and Reed, D.L. (2010). Evolutionary history of mammalian sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 10: 292 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-10-292
  • Musser, G.G., Durden, L.A., Holden, M.E., and Light, J.E. (2010). Systematic review of endemic Sulawesi squirrels (Rodentia, Sciuridae), with descriptions of new species of associated sucking lice (Insecta, Anoplura), and phylogenetic and zoogeographic assessments of sciurid lice. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 339: 260 pages.