Molecular Ecology Evolution and Genetics

MEEG

MEEG

• The MEEG group is committed to creating a research environment that stimulates student training and education, and strengthens infrastructure at the University of Puerto Rico

• This is achieved though student participation in a range of project within and outside of UPR

MEEG

• The MEEG group is composed of four principal lines of research– Phylogeography and conservation genetics of

plants– Population genetic analyses of feral goat and

pig populations on Mona Island– Digestive microbiomes from animals isolated

on an island for over 500 years– Aspergillosis of sea fans

MEEG

• Phylogeography and conservation genetics of plants– Phylogeography and population genetics of

Tabebuia heterophylla– Conservation genetics of endemic catci:

Harrisia – Conservation genetics of endemic catci:

Melocactus

MEEG

• Population genetic analyses of feral goat and pig populations on Mona Island– Conservation genetic analyses– Analyses of genetic structure, and geographic

origins of feral populations

MEEG

• Digestive microbiomes from animals isolated on an island for over 500 years– Characterization of digestive ecosystems from

Mona Island ungulates and comparison to domesticated undulate communities

– Analyses to test if there has been bacterial gene transfer and selection of genes from other microbial ecosystems

MEEG

• Aspergillosis of sea fans– Testing the role of Aspergillus species as

pathogens of sea fans in the Caribbean– Determine the source of inoculum– Project the potential impact of global warming

on the disease