Conservation Genetics

As part of an international, collaborative effort to develop new conservation methods for the Philippine government, I am working to develop baseline phylogenetic databases for many of the threatened (and heavily traded) reptiles in the Philippines. The PhyloForensic system will provide a means for students, researchers, and government and conservation agencies to better monitor the trade of the country’s endemic, flagship species. In addition to providing a new tool for conservation efforts, the datasets will be used to explore and study the distribution of genetic diversity across the landscape, as well as direct conservation priority setting for the protection of genetically unique populations.