Stesha Pasachnik
Research Interests
In 2000, Myers et al. identified Mesoamerica as one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, in need of immediate attention by conservationists. The Iguanidae is a conspicuous component of this diversity, largely due to the species rich genus, Ctenosaura. Thirteen of the 17 species within the Ctenosaura genus occur in Mesoamerica (Hollingsworth 2004), and the C. melanosterna clade is restricted to Nuclear-Mesoamerica. Ctenosaurs are threatened by habitat destruction and over-harvesting and lack any real form of protection. One member of this clade, C. bakeri, endemic to the small (12.7 x 5.2 Km) Honduran island of Utila, is additionally threatened by hybridization with C. similis, a wide ranging congener. To address the high level of intra-generic diversity within this clade I plan to conduct a three-fold molecular evaluation of the ctenosaurs in this area of high endemism.
The first and most broad approach is to construct a phylogeny of the iguanas of C. melanosterna complex, occur along the Caribbean borders and islands of Honduras, based on a variety of mitochondrial and nuclear markers (the C. quinquecarinata complex will be used as an outgroup). I also plan to investigate of the colonization of C. bakeri, C. similis, C. melanosterna, and C. oedirhina to the Bay Islands, Cayos Cochinos and various islets in the Caribbean Sea bordering Honduras using molecular techniques. The final portion of my research focuses on the degree and directions of hybridization between the endemic C. bakeri and a wide-ranging congener, C. similis, on the island of Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras. This study will provide insight into the diversity, conservation and management of these unique and understudied species.
Education
- 2003 - B.A., Earlham College
Contact Information
Stesha Pasachnik
Graduate Student
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
569 Dabney Hall
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-1610
Phone:
(865) 974-1610
Fax: (865) 974-3067
Email: spasachn@utk.edu