Laboratory Personnel

Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Departamento de Biologia, ICB, 69077-000 Manaus, AM, Brasil

Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras (UPR-RP), San Juan, PR, 00931, Puerto Rico

Andréa Martins Cantanhede CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2002 with Vera M. F. da Silva; Ph.D. 2008 with Izeni Farias and Vera M. F. da Silva

Andréa works in the area of conservation of aquatic mammals, and in particular on the conservation of peixe-boi da Amazônia, the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). During her Masters, Andréa collected mtDNA d-loop data to investigate the distribution of genetic diversity in manatees among different regions of the Amazon basin. For her Ph.D. project carried out in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program she conducted fine-scaled molecular population analyses using microsatellite DNA data. These analyses also investigated hybridization events between Trichechus inunguis and Trichechus manatus in the Amazon delta. Results of the molecular studies are being applied towards the management and conservation of this species. These data are especially important for the implementation of reintroduction programs of captive individuals. Andréa was co-advised by Vera M. F. da Silva who head the Laboratory of Aquatic Mammals at INPA, and advised by Izeni Farias. In 2004 Andréa was the winner of the Sílvio de Almeida Tolede Filho prize, a prize honoring best conservation work in the area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics held in Florianópolis, SC.

Cleiton Fantin Rezende CV Lattes [e-mail] Ph.D. 2007 with Luiz Alberto dos Santos Monjeló and Izeni Farias

Cleiton is interested in turtles and tortoises, but also has interest in fishes and some groups of mammals. Currently Cleiton is addressing questions of multile paternity in the nests of three freshwater turtle species of the genus Podocnemis (P. sextuberculata, P. unifilis and P. erythrocephala) using microsatellite DNA markers. Chromosomal studies are also being developed in order to better characterize citogenetically species of the genus Podocnemis. Cleiton finished his Ph.D. in the UFAM Biotechnology program, and has recently spent six month at the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras investingating questions of paternity in P. erythrocephala and P. sextuberculata. Cleiton is currently a professor of biology at Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA) in Manaus.

Eduardo Rodrígues de Souza CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2008 with Tomas Hrbek and Izeni Farias

Eduardo is interested insystematics and phylogeography of species of the genus Fluviphylax. Fluviphylax species are the smallest vetebrates of South America and are distributed in back waters of large rivers, and in the eastern part of their distributed in a savannah-like habitats. Currently five species are described, and their geographic range extends from the rivers of the Venezuelan Llanos to the Oiapoque River which forms a border between French Guiana and the Brazilian state of Amapá. Eduardo has recently finished a M.Sc. in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. He currently has a fellowship to work on economically important fishes of the Amazon, but is planning to enter a Ph.D. program in the beginning of the next academic year.

Maria das Neves Silva Viana CV Lattes [e-mail] Ph.D. 2005 with Maria Iracilda da Cunha Sampaio and Izeni Farias

Neves is working on the molecular genetics of quelonians. She is working with all four species of Podocnemis (P. expansa, P. sextuberculata, P. unifilis and P. erythrocephala) known to occur in Brazil. Neves' principal interest is to understand the population genetic structure of these species. For those purposes she is using mtDNA markers (d-loop, ND1 and 16S genes) and microsatellites. Neves is also using comparative phylogenetic analysis to study microsatellite evolution in the mtDNA d-loop region; for this study she is collaborating with Jack Sites (BYU) and Nicole Valenzuela (ISU). Neves is a professor of Biochemistry at UFAM.

Marina Anciães CV Lattes [e-mail] info

Marina is an ornithologist interested in animal behavior, geographic distribution and ecology including conservation biology of birds. She is particularly interested in questions of diversification and speciation at the behavioral, ecological and molecular levels. Her current project involves phylogeography and geographic variation in courtship behavior and ecology of populations of two species of tanagers (Lepidothrix coronata and L. nattereri) on opposite sides of Amazonian rivers. Marina is also collaborating with Dr. Emilio Bruna (Univ. of Florida) and Dr. Maria Uriarte (Univ. of Columbia) in a project that looks at seed dispersal of Heliconia acumminata by frugivorous birds in the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (PDBFF-INPA) where she leads a team composed of an undegraduate student in biology Jefferson Velasko, and the biologists Xênya Bernardes and Virgiane Knorr. Recently Marina together with Natacha Sohn also carried out a project mapping the distribution and evaluating the behavior of the cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) in the region of Presidente Figueiredo, AM with the goal of providing data for the reintroduction of captive individuals. Marina has a postdoctoral fellowship from FAPEAM to carry out her research under the direction of Mario Cohn-Haft (INPA) and Izeni Farias. She is advising a biology undergraduate students Shizuka Hashimoto, and a graphic design undergraduate student Cristiana Grobe. Marine is now a researcher at INPA.

Mário da Silva Nunes CV Lattes [e-mail]

Mário is doing an undergraduate project on the phylogeography of Cichla. This project is being done in collaboration with Stuart Willis. Mário was a recipient of the prestigious CNPq PIBIC fellowship, and runner-up (2nd place) in the 2005 PIBIC national - all Brazil - student project competition. Mario currently has a fellowship to work on economically important fishes, and is applying to graduate schools.

Natasha Verdasca Meliciano CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2008 with Tomas Hrbek and Izeni Farias

Natasha is testing evolutionary hypotheses of relationships among shape, size, geographic distribution and genetic divergence of three Pterophyllum species found in different water types of the Amazon basin distributed across different phylogeographic regions. The experimental design aimed to address how is variation in phenotype and genotype distributed across the Amazon basin, how does phenotypic and genotypic variation correspond to current taxonomy, and what factors explain spatial variation in genotype and phenotyp. Natasha has obtained a M.Sc. from the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and currently has a fellowship to work on economically important fishes.

Rafaela Cardoso dos Santos CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2008 with Izeni Farias

Rafaela is studying phylogeographic and population genetics of Podocnemys erythrocephala. Rafaela started in the laboratory as an undergraduate being a recipient of the prestigious CNPq PIBIC fellowship, and a winner of a 2004 PIBIC student project competition at UFAM. In 2005 Rafaela was selected as one of only five undergraduate students in all of Brazil in the area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals, and invited to give a presenation at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics at Águas de Lindóias. Rafaela placed second, and won an Honorable Mention for her presentation. Rafaela received her M.Sc. from the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and currently has a fellowship to continue working on Amazonian turtles.

Silvia Planas [e-mail]

Silvia is a research associate in the laboratory of Tomas Hrbek. She manages day-to-day operations in the lab, and is also actively participating on a project involving a quantitative genetic basis of senescence in a group of annual killifishes from southeastern Africa. Silvia is also simultaneously working on her Masters thesis project which is an analysis of hybridization among species of the Espeletia spp. complex. Yes, these are plants. Espeletia are an amazing group of plants distributed in the high elevation Andean habitats from Peru through Ecuador to Colombia and Venezuela. Espeletia shows large amount of morphological variation both in leaf morphology, rosette structure, and plant height, ranging from tiny sessile rosettes to shrubs and tall trees. Silvia is a student in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where she is advised by Jason Rauscher. If you are interested in Espeletia see Jason's website for more information.

Waleska Gravena CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2006 with Izeni Farias and Vera M. F. da Silva

Waleska finished her M.Sc. work on paternity and social organization of a group of the boto-rosa, the pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in the city of Nova Airão, Amazonas. In this region a group of 10 to 12 dolphins frequents an area near a floating house. The same 10 individuals have become virtual residents, while the other two individuals frequent the area more sporadically. Of the 10 resident dolphins, two are a probable mother-offspring pair. This aggregation is very unusual since the pink dolphin is normally a solitary animal, or one only finds mother-offspring groups. The goal of this project is to determine if this group is composed of related individuals, of if these individuals simply aggregate for feeding. Studies conducted on marine dolphins suggest that most aggregations are composed of unrelated individuals. Another aspect of this study is to determine the paternity of the juvenile pink dolphin of this resident group. Studies on the bottle-nose dolphin suggest very high extra-group paternity rates, thus it is of interest to find out if this juvenile was sired by one of the males from within this resident group, or by a solitary male that lives outside the resident group. Waleska obtained a M.Sc. from the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program under Vera M. F. da Silva (INPA) and Izeni Farias. She currently holds a CNPq fellowship to continue studies of aquatic mammals of Amazonia.

Aureo Banhos dos Santos CV Lattes [e-mail]

Aureo is a student in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. He is advised by Izeni Farias and is co-advised by Tânia Sanaiotti of the department of Ecology of INPA. Aureo is interested in evolutionary history, distribution and conservation of top avian predators of Brazilian forests, thus he is interested in the phylogeography and population genetics of Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) of Brazil. The Harpy eagle is a top level predator that lives in the upper canopies of New World forests from Mexico to Argentina, and is found in large areas of Brazil. It is the largest and most imposing falconiform bird of the world, has the largest tallons, and its back tallon (halox) can reach up to 10 cm. Globally, this species is considered to be threatened with extinction. In the Brazilian national list of threatened species, the Harpy eagle is not considered threatened, however, some state lists consider this species endangered. In the Brazilian Amazon this species is apparently abundant. Aureo is currently trying to infer the population genetic structure of the Harpy eagle in different forest habitats of Brazil, and to test if genetic differentiation exists between these discontinuous forests. The results of this study will be used for the conservation and management of this species in Brazil, but will have implication for other areas of its distribution. Recently Aureo's work has been featured in and article published by the museum of the Rio Grande do Sul Zoobotanical Foundation and an article published by the museum of the Colegio La Salle Dores also in Rio Grande do Sul. In 2007 Aureo was the winner of the best poster presentation in the area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics held in Águas de Lindóias, SP.

Dania M. Rodríguez [e-mail]

Dania is the genomic specialist of the Sequencing and Genotyping Facility at the University of Puerto Rico. Dania is an expert molecular biologist, and for her M.Sc. project she is studying mitochondrial gene order rearrangements of rivulid killifishes. Dania is using whole shotgun sequening, followed by assembly and genome finishing to understand killifish gene order. She is a student in the student in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where she is advised by Tomas Hrbek.

Daniel Toffoli Ribeiro CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2006 with Izeni Farias and Tomas Hrbek

Daniel is interested in understanding processes of diversification and speciation in the freshwater stingray family Potamotrygonidae. This family is the only supraspecific taxon within the Chondrichthyidae (sharks and rays) all of whose species occur exclusively in freshwaters. Currently Daniel is focusing on species of the Amazon basin. To address these questions, Daniel is using mitochondrial and nuclear markers, ecological and bahavioral data. Daniels obtained his M.Sc. under Izeni Farias in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and currently is pursuing his Ph.D. in the department of Genetics and Evolution at UFSCar under the guidance of Reinaldo Alves de Brito and Tomas Hrbek. In 2008 Daniel was the winner of the best poster presentation in the area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics held in Salvador, BA.

Jacqueline da Silva Batista CV Lattes [e-mail]

Jacqueline is a student in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. She is advised by José A. Alves-Gomes of the department of Aquatic Research of INPA and is co-advised by Izeni Farias. Jacqueline is also the main person responsible for running INPA's sequencing and genotyping facility. Jacqueline's interest lies in the phylogeographic and population genetic analysis of the large migratory catfishes of the Amazon basin. Specifically she is studying fishes of the genus Brachyplatystoma, the piramutaba (B. vaillantii), the dourada (B. rousseauxii) and the piraíba (B. filamentosum). Based on demographic and ecological observations of Ronaldo Barthem and Michael Goulding, these catfish migrate into the headwaters of Andean rivers, but their main areas of growth is the Amazon River delta. Jacqueline is testing these hypotheses, and also hypotheses of phylopatry and the occurence of different stocks/cohors within each species. Mitochondrial DNA studies made a major contribution to an environmental impact assessment of the constuction of a series of dams on the Madeira River. In May 2007 this assessment resulted in the halt of the planned construction. See a report and a commentary of the role of these catfish in halting the construction of the Madeira River dams.

Maria da Conceição Freitas Santos CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2004 with José Odair Pereira and Izeni Farias

Concy is studying the phylogeography and population genetic structure of the tambaqui Colossoma macropomum. The tambaqui is probably the largest characin species of the world, and also of great economical importance as food fish. The tambaqui and its relatives are herbivors and seed eaters, and their closest relatives are the flesh eating piranhas. The results of these studies will be used for planning of management strategies for this species. Further implications include the identification of regions and or ecotypes that might be used in farming and ranching enterprizes using this species. Concy is enrolled in the UFAM Biotechnology program, and is advised by Izeni Farias.

Nicole Cristina Lopes Dutra CV Lattes [e-mail]

Nicole is using a multilocus approach to study landscape genetics of the Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis de Blainville, 1871). Most of the molecular analyses done so far on the Amazon River dolphi have included very few or no animals from the Brazilian portions of the Amazon basin, and no study as included the Araguaia/Tocantins system which is almost entirely isolated from the Amazon basin. The Araguaia/Tocantins system shares a lot of species with the Amazon basin including plants and animals of the várzea biotype, however, it is not directly connected to the Amazon River basin; it flows into the southern Amazon River delta just west of Belém. Further interesting problem is the question of the biological reality of the different described subspecies of Inia geoffrensis. Nicole is a student in the UFAM Biodiversity program , and is advised by Izeni Farias and co-advised by Vera M. F. da Silva of INPA.

Pascal Mège [e-mail]

Pascal is a student in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where he is advised by Tomas Hrbek. Pascal is studying diversity and composition of microorganism communities associated with the mucus coat of the elkhorn coral Acropora palmata. He is in particularly interested if there is an association with particular species or strains of microorganism and the white band disease. An additional important question is if there exists geographic variation in microorganismal community composition, and how does this affect white band disease succeptibility.

Pedro Ivo Simões CV Lattes [e-mail]

Pedro is studying aromobatid (skunk) frogs of the genus Allobates. The aromobatids were until recently considered to be family dendrobatidae (poison dart) frogs. In particular Pedro is looking at cryptic diversification, and the factors that lead to this diversification. He is using both molecular data in the form of multi locus mitochondrial and nuclear haplotypes, and phenotypic and ethological data. Pedro is a student in the INPA Ecology program, and is advised by Albertina Lima and co-advised by Izeni Farias.

Themis de Jesus da Silva CV Lattes [e-mail]

Themis is studying the aruanã. There are two species, Osteoglossum ferreirai which is endemic to the rio Negro basin, and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum which is found in the rest of the Amazon basin. As adults the two species are nearly indistinguishable, but they have strikingly different juvenile pattern. The black-and-white striated pattern of Osteoglossum ferreirai makes it exceptionally attractive, and thus juveniles of this species became a very thought-after aquarium fish. Both species are also paternal mouthbrooders (the male incubates eggs in his mouth, and then guards juveniles in his mouth). Both species are also important food fishes for riverine inhabitants, and are widely sold in the markets of all Amazonian cities. Pressure on these species is therefore great, and is increasing as they gain popularity in the aquarium hobby, and as the stocks of other more valuable fish species become depleted. Themis' thesis has two main goals 1) a to conduct a phylogeographic and population genetic study of both species, and 2) to investigate the reproductive system of these species. Themis is a student in the UFAM Biotechnology program, and is advised by Izeni Farias.

William Rangel Vasconcelos CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2005 with Izeni Farias

William is investigating a trasitional zone between the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) and the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman yacare) along a transect following the Madeira River through the Bolivian basin into the Pantanal and upper rio Paraguai basin. He is using genetic and morphological data to map variation across this transect, and to test alternate processes that could have resulted in the observed pattern. William is advised by Tomas Hrbek and co-advised by Bill Magnusson of the department of Ecology of INPA and collaborating with Zilca Campos of EMBRAPA. William is doing his Ph.D. in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. William's Masters thesis focused on phylogeography, population and conservation genetics of the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) and the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus). Both species, but especially the black caiman were heavily hunted for their skins, and by early 1980's their numbers were severely depleted, however, their genetic diversity seem not to have been significantly impacted. In 2004 William's Masters Thesis work was selected as the best graduate work in area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics in Florianópolis.

M.Sc. students

Adam Souza de Alencar Leão CV Lattes [e-mail]

As an undergraduate Adam did a pilot study on the genetic diversity of Arapaima gigas from several managed and unmanaged areas in the Amazon basin. Adam is expanding this study to conduct a multidimentional molecular ecological study of Arapaima gigas from key localities in the Amazon basin. The data will be used to evaluate effects on genetic diversity of different types of management strategies. Adam is a student in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program and is advised by Izeni Farias.

Daniela Maria Leroy e Vieira CV Lattes [e-mail]

Daniel is interested in the use of molecular markers to study phylogeographic patterns in Amazonian frogs of the genus Physalaemus. This study is being done in collaboration with Albertina Lima of INPA, and will involve the use of intraspecific phylogenetic methods to not just investigate distributional patterns, but also behavioral and ecological data. Daniela is doing her M.Sc. in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and is advised by Tomas Hrbek and co-advised by Albertina Lima of the Ecology program at INPA.

Deyla Paula de Oliveira CV Lattes [e-mail]

Deyla is using molecular methods to study the reproductive behavior or Caiman crocodilus from the Piagaçu Purus reserve. Similar to the black caiman Melanosuchus niger, spectacled caiman males are thought to defend relatively large territories within witch are found territories of females. Based on this apparent behavior several predictions can be made and tested. Deyla is doing her M.Sc. in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and is advised by Tomas Hrbek.

Edvaldo Pereira Mota CV Lattes [e-mail]

Ed is a M.Sc. student in the Biodiversity program of UFAM. For his graduate studies he will studying species of the genus Phyllomedusa. Ed is interested in phylogeographic patterns of the species of this genus and in the patterns of geographic distribution of toxicity and the association of toxicity with particular haplotypes of haplotype groups. Ed is advised by Tomas Hrbek and is co-advised by Albertina Lima (INPA). As an undergraduate student Ed was working on the migratory fish Prochilodus lineatus.

Felix Araujo [e-mail]

Felix is a student in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where he is oficially advised by Tomas Hrbek, but really advised by W. Owen McMillan who recently took at faculty position a the North Carolina State University. Felix is doing his thesis on linkage disequillibrium mapping of wing-colour pattern genes in Heliconius butterflies. Heliconius butterflies are a great model system for the study of diversification, hybrdization, speciation and the evolution of mimicry patterns, and Felix hopes to contribute through his studies to the identification of some of the major genes responsible for the wing color patterns in the Heliconius butterflies.

Ígor Luís Kaefer CV Lattes [e-mail]

Igor is a M.Sc. student in the INPA Ecology programINPA Ecology program where he is advised by Albertina Lima and co-advised by Izeni Farias. Igor is studying mechanisms of diversification in aromobatid (skunk) frogs of the genus Allobates. The aromobatids were until recently considered to be family dendrobatidae (poison dart) frogs.

Karla Z. Maldonado [e-mail]

Karla is a student in the in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where she is co-advised by Tomas Hrbek. Among other things, Karla is interested in the quantitative genetic basis of shape of wing shape and color spot pattern on the wings of Heliconius butterflies. These questions are being investigated by studying interspecific hybrids of H. cydno and H. melopome that for a long time has been natural model system for the study of speciation and the evolution of aposematic colors and the associated Batesian and Mullerian mimicry. Karla is advised by W. Owen McMillan who is now on the faculty at North Carolina State University.

Kelmer Batalha Passos CV Lattes [e-mail]

Kelmer is a M.Sc. student in the Biodiversity program of UFAM. For his graduate studies Kelmer will investigate population structure of the large-scale jaraqui (Semaprochilodus insignis, Prochilodontidae, Characiformes). Currently there are three species of jaraquis described. The large-scale jaraqui (S. insignis), the small-scale jaraqui (S. taeniurus) and the jaraqui (S. brama). The large- and small-scale jaraquis are widely distributed in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins but appear not to occur in the Tapajos and Xingu Rivers, while the jaraqui is found only in the Xingu and the Araguaia-Tocantins River systems. All three species are detrivores and similar to the ecologically well studies fishes of the genus Prochilodus, the jaraquis play a major role in nutrient cycling in Neotropical rivers.

Mauro de Freitas Ortiz CV Lattes [e-mail]

Mauro is a M.Sc. student in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program, and is advised by Jose Alves-Gomes and co-advised by Tomas Hrbek. Mauro is interested in interested in testing the concept of molecular barcoding in fishes, and how practical and functional this concept is for Amazonian fishes. The Amazon basin has an incredible diversity of fishes with an estimated 50% of species still undescribed, and therefore assessing how well molecular barcoding will hold up in a biodiversity rich region such as the Amazon basin is vital.

Valeria Nogueira Machado CV Lattes [e-mail]

Valeria is a M.Sc. student in the Fisheries Engineering program of UFAM and is advised by Izeni Farias. For her thesis, Valeria will be performing an association study in Arapaima gigas to investigate linkages patterns of genomic regions with economically important phenotypic traits. Arapaima gigas, known as pirarucu in Brazil is a heavily overfish, but also economically very important fish. It has a great aquiculture potential. Through her studies, Valeria aims to identify genomic regions linked to traits of economic importance, and once these regions are identified, marker-assisted selection studies can be performed.

Fábio de Lima Muniz CV Lattes [e-mail]

Fábio is doing a paternity analysis in groups of nestlings of Melanosuchus niger from the Anavilhanas ecological station near Manaus.

Jaqueline Rizzi Fortuna CV Lattes [e-mail]

Jaqueline is working in a project that investigates genetic variation in the Blue-crowned Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata, Aves, Pipridae) known as Uirapurú-de-coroa-azul in Amazônia. Jaqueline is supervised by Marina Anciães.

Patrícia da Costa Gomes CV Lattes

Patrícia is working on a project that studies the genetic diversity in Osteoglossum bicirrhosum from the central Amazon basin. Patrícia is supervised by Themis.

Shizuka Hashimoto CV Lattes [e-mail]

Shizuka is working together with Marina Anciães on a project which investingates phylogeography and geographic variation in courtship behavior and ecology of populations of two species of Manakins (Lepidothrix coronata and L. nattereri) on opposite banks of Amazonian rivers.

Alexandre Mendes Fernandes CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2007 with Mario Cohn-Haft and Izeni Farias

Alexandre was a student in the joint INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. Alexandre was advised by Mario Cohn-Haft of the department of Ecology of INPA and co-advised by Izeni Farias. Alexandre is interested in testing the hypothesis of small rivers-as-geographic barriers. He collected mtDNA sequence data to study genetic structuring in four passeriform species found on the opposite sides of the rio Maderia, and two of its two tributaries, the Aripuaná e Ji-Paraná Rivers. The fours species Microcerculus marginatus (Troglodytidae), Hylophylax poecilinota (Thamnophilidae), Schiffornis turdinus (Pipridae) and Glyphorynchus spirurus (Dendrocolaptidae) are phylogenetically only distantly related, but have many ecological similarities. All four species are small, are widely distributed in Amazônia, occupy fixed territories and are restricted to the lower-canopy forest of the "terra firme" forest (non-flooded forest). All four species show some, but varying, degree of geographic differentiation, principally along the rio Madeira. With the exception of Hylophylax poecilinota there are no published accounts of differentiation on opposite banks of the rio Madeira, and for no species are there published records of differentiation with smaller rivers acting as geographic barriers. Portion of the project will also investigate other historical demographic events such as population reductions or expansion, and common historical patterns with species of the Hemitriccus minor complex. Alexandre's work on passerine differentiaton was recognized as the best poster presentation at the VIII Congreso de Ornitología Neotropical, Maturin, Monagas, Venezuela in May, 2007. In August 2007 Alexandre has started his Ph.D. at the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany being funded by the prestigeous CNPq doctoral fellowship.

Audrey Alencar Arruda D'Assunção CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2006 with Jorge Ivan Rebelo Porto and Tomas Hrbek

For her Masters, Audrey did a opulation genetic analysis of the cardinal (Paracheirodon axelrodi) which occurs in the middle and upper rio Negro basin. Her main interest was to estimate seasonal variations and long-term changes in genetic diversity of this species. The cardinal is the most heavily exploited ornamental species of not just the Amazon basin, but also of the whole world. Recent official estimated indicated that more than 30 million individuals are exported annually, although this likely represents a 2-3 fold underestimate. The cardinal has been commercially exported for over 50 years now. It is therefore imperative to undertake a study of the genetic variability of this species, to investigate trends in change of genetic diversity, and to see to what extent, if any, commercial harvest for the aquarium hobby has impacted this species. Audrey recently obtained her M.Sc. from the INPA/UFAM Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology program. Currently Audrey holds a DTI fellowship from CNPq to continue her research at INPA.

Hernán López-Fernández [e-mail]

Hernán is working on phylogenetic systematics and adaptive radiations in Neotropical cichlids focusing on the Heroiini clade. Currently Hernán is working with Kirk Winemiller and Rodney Honneycut on an NSF funded grant on which Hernán is a co-PI. Hernán also recently finished a postdoc in UT Austin on post-zygotic isolating mechanisms in Centrarchid fishes with Dan Bolnik. In early 2008 Hernán has started a position as a curator of fishes at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. For more information see Hernan's website.

Jason Macrander [e-mail]

Jason was a student in the Biology program of the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras campus where he was advised by Tomas Hrbek. Jason was interested in using ecological genomic approaches to study Aspergillosis of the purple seafans Gorgonia ventalina. Aspergillosis is caused by the fungus Aspergillus sydowii which originates in soil. Jason has left the program to pursue his Masters in the laboratory of Guillermo Ortí at UNL.

Kai N. Stoelting [e-mail]

As an undergrad, Kai was working on population genetics of Central American cichlids of the genus Amphilophus. He has also done molecular phylogenetic studies of European cyprinodontoid killifishes and leuciscine cyprinids. Kai had finished his Diplom at the University of Konstanz, Germany, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Zürich, Switzerland with Tony Wilson where he is studying male pregnancy in seahorses and in pipefishes.

Manuella Villar Amado CV Lattes [e-mail] Ph.D. 2008 with Izeni Farias and Tomas Hrbek

Manuella was a student in the Biotechnology program of UFAM. Manuella performed a microsatellite analysis of the genus Symphysodon investigating if the patterns found in mitochondrial DNA, meristic characters and in chromosome painting patters are concordant with patters observed in microsatellites DNA. These data are used to investigate phylogeographic patters, and also to address the species question. The genus Symphysodon is composed of two species and five subspecies including the nominal subspecies. Different authors interpret data to suggest that Symphysodon is monotypic to containing multiple species in excess to the five described subspecies. However, to date this question has not been approached systematically, sampling large numbers of individuals from multiple localities throughout the distributional range of this genus, the Amazon basin. Manuela lives and teaches in Vitória, Espirito Santo.

Sergio Alejandro López Pabón

Sergio came to the University of Puerto Rico from his undergraduate studies in the Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Sergio was planning to do a phylogeographic and conservation genetic analysis of the Black-Thighed Puffleg Eriocnemis derbyi, a hummingbird inhabiting the páramo biotope of Colombia and Ecuador. Unfortunately Sergio never fullfilled his dream. While hiking in the El Yunque national forest in Puerto Rico on Memorial Day Monday Sergio, together with Fernanda Okamura Abensur of Brazil, lost his life in a flash flood. We miss you both!

Stuart C. Willis [e-mail]

Stuart is working on phylogenetic systematics, phylogeography and biogeography of the Neotropical cichlid genus Cichla popularly known as the peacock basses. He has finished his M.Sc. at the University of Manitoba, Canada under the direction of Nathan Lovejoy, and has done part of his work in Manaus. In Fall 2005 Stuart began his Ph.D. in the laboratory of Guillermo Ortí at UNL where he continuing and expanding his cichlid studies. See Stuart's website.

Wancley Garcia Santos CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2005 with Izeni Farias

Wancley conducted his thesis on the critically endangered black-faced tamarin (Saguinus bicolor). Saguinus bicolor is known only from the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, and most all known populations are in forest fragments within the city itself. The largest forest fragment habitat is on the UFAM campus. The object of Wancley's study was to access levels of genetic diversity within the species, patterns of gene flow between forest fragments as well as relationships (paternity studies) within groups. This project was done in collaboration with members of the Laboratory of Ecology of Marcelo Gordo (UFAM), and was carried out within the Biotechnology program of UFAM under the advise of Izeni Farias. Results are currently being prepared for publication and are being implemented in a conservation plan for the black-faced tamarin. In 2005 Wancley was selected as one of only five professionals in all of Brazil in the area of Genetics, Evolution and Breeding of Animals for the Sílvio de Almeida Tolede Filho prize, a prize honoring best conservation genetic work, and invited to give a presenation at the annual meeting of the Brazilian Society of Genetics at Águas de Lindóias. Wancley won first place for his M.Sc. work, and received the Sílvio de Almeida Tolede Filho prize. Wancley's work has also recently been highlighted by FAPEAM, the Amazonas State research foundation. See a PDF or online version of the article. Wancley is currently teaching biology at a millitary college in Manaus.

Yane Santos Almeida CV Lattes [e-mail] M.Sc. 2006 with Izeni Farias and Tomas Hrbek

Yane obtained her M.Sc. from the Biotechnology program of UFAM with Izeni Farias and Tomas Hrbek. Her thesis focused on paternity studies of Arapaima gigas from enclosed and semi-opened lake systems in two regions of the Amazon basin. To answer these questions, she used microsatellite markers to generate a genetic profile of offsprings collected from each nest, drawing conclusions about the reproductive system of this species. Arapaima is one of the economically most important species of the Amazon basin, and also one of the largest freshwater fishes of the world, and it is becoming an important aquiculture species. In spite of this, very little biological data exists on Arapaima. Yane is currently teaching biology in Santarém.