Research Interests
My main research interest is why there are so many species of organisms on our planet, and why certain groups have greater numbers of species than others. My research focuses on the environmental and biological (social, morphological, physiological, and life history) factors that influence the development of genetic structure in natural populations of bats and their parasites. Within this broad framework I pursue studies in four broad areas: (1) environmental effects on social behavior and population genetic structure; (2) the ecology and genetics of host-parasite and host-disease systems; (3) comparative population genetic structure and phylogeography; and (4) phylogenetic analyses of species-level relationships within selected groups. My research combines field studies on animal behavior and ecology, and laboratory approaches using molecular markers such as microsatellites and DNA sequences.
Publications
Recent Journal Articles:
Vonhof M.J., Barber D., Fenton M.B. and Strobeck C. (2006) A tale of two siblings: multiple paternity in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) demonstrated using microsatellite markers. Molecular Ecology 15(1), 241-247.
Gill S.A., Vonhof M.J., Stutchbury B.M., Morton E.S. and Quinn J.S. (2005) No evidence for acoustic mate-guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 57(6), 557-565.
Vonhof M.J., Whitehead H. and Fenton M.B. (2004) Analysis of Spix's disc-winged bat association patterns and roosting home ranges reveal a novel social structure among bats. Animal Behaviour 68, 507-521.
Vonhof M.J. and Fenton M.B. (2004) Roost availability and population size of Thyroptera tricolor, a leaf-roosting bat, in north-eastern Cost Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology 20, 291-305. |
