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Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick

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Research Interests

Population Genetics, Conservation Biology, Vertebrate Biology

My major interests are in the genetics and biogeography of speciation, the importance of local adaptation for both evolution and conservation management, and invasion biology. I encourage graduate students to develop their own research questions, which may involve my primary study organisms (salamanders) or not.

I am collaborating with Randal Voss (http://salamander.uky.edu) and Brad Shaffer (http://www2.eve.ucdavis.edu/shafferlab/index.htm) to develop a large-scale genomic approach to studying constraints on gene flow and local adaptation in tiger salamanders. Other projects include application of molecular markers to study the roles of geography and natural selection in the diversification of plethodontid salamanders, and metaanalyses of biogeographic and phylogenetic data to test models of

Educations

  • 2004- Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Selected Publications

  • Miller, B. T. and M. L. Niemiller. 2008. Distribution and relative abundance of Tennessee Cave Salamanders (Gyrinophilous palleucus and Gyrinophilous gulolineatus) with an emphasis on Tennessee populations. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3: 1-20.
  • Fitzpatrick, B. M. 2008. Dobzhansky-Muller model of hybrid dysfunction supported by poor burst-speed performance in hybrid tiger salamanders. Journal of Evolutionary  Biology. 21: 342-351.
  • Bolnick, D. I. and B. M. Fitzpatrick. 2007. Sympatric speciation: models and empirical evidence. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 38: 459-487.
  • Fitzpatrick, B. M. and H. B. Shaffer. 2007. Hybrid vigor between native and introduced salamanders raises new challenges for conservation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 104: 15793-15798.
  • Reynolds, R. Graham and B. M. Fitzpatrick. 2007. Assortative mating in poison-dart frogs based on an ecologically important trait. Evolution. 61: 2253-2259.
  • Niemiller, M. L. and B. T. Miller. 2007. Subterranean reproduction of the Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) from Short Mountain, Tennessee.
    Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 2: 106-112.
  • Fitzpatrick, B. M. and H. B. Shaffer. 2007. Introduction history and habitat variation explain the landscape genetics of hybrid tiger salamanders. Ecological Applications 17: 598-608.
  • Fitzpatrick, B. M. and M. Turelli. 2006. The geography of mammalian speciation: mixed signals from phylogenies and range maps. Evolution. 60: 601-615.
  • Niemiller ML, Glorioso BM, Nicholas C, Phillips J, Rader J, Reed E, Sykes KL, Todd J, Wyckoff GR, Young EL, and Miller BT. 2006. Status and distribution of the streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) in middle Tennessee. American Midland Naturalist. 156: 393–399.
  • Glorioso BM, and Niemiller ML. 2006. Using deep-water crawfish nets to capture aquatic turtles. Herpetological Review. 37: 185–187
Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick

Contact Information

Benjamin M. Fitzpatrick
Assistant Professor
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
569 Dabney Hall
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1610

Phone: (865) 974-9734
Fax: (865) 974-3067
Email: benfitz@utk.edu