CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Morphological diversification in Caribbean anoles:
I have broad interests in phenotypic evolution from population-level processes to interspecific patterns of diversification. One project I'm working on combines morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic information to tease apart patterns of diversification in the Anolis cybotes species group from Hispaniola (collaboration with Rich Glor). Another project uses landmark-based morphometrics to study the evolution on head shape in Anolis ecomorphs from the Greater Antilles (collaboration with Luke Harmon).

Interspecific interactions in Antiguan lizard communities:
Lizard communities in Antigua consist of varying combinations of three species: Anolis leachi, Anolis wattsi, and Ameiva griswoldi. Depending on the species present, Anolis wattsi habitat use and relative abundance will vary substantially. The relative importance of factors such as interspecific competition and intraguild predation are being evaluated in these communities.

Molecular phylogenetics of the Anolis sagrei species group from Cuba:
The Anolis sagrei species group contains approximately 14 species. I'm sequencing mtDNA to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships in this group. So far sampling includes 12 species with multiple localities for the widespread species Anolis sagrei and Anolis homolechis (collaboration with Rich Glor).


PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS

Consequences of nest-site selection in the common snapping turtle:
My Master's research focused on the consequences of maternal effects, such as nest-site selection and offspring size, for the survival of turtle nests and hatchlings. I conducted an experimental release to evaluate the relative importance of two maternal effects - offspring size and nest site - for the survival and behavior of hatchling turtles. I also looked at patterns of snapping turtle nest predation in natural and disturbed environments at a site along the Mississippi River.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of turtle nest predation:
During my Master's work, I started a side project looking at the effect of distance to ecological edges and nest density on the probability of nest predation in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. In addition to the direct demographic impact of predation, the potential exists for indirect effects on sex ratio because painted turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination and ecological edges can influence temperature gradients (collaboration with Fred Janzen).

PUBLICATIONS

Glor, R.E., J.J. Kolbe, R. Powell, A. Larson, and J.B. Losos. Submitted. A comparative analysis of morphological diversification in Hispaniolan trunk-ground anoles (cybotes group). Evolution

Losos, J.B., M. A. Johnson, and J.J. Kolbe. Submitted. A Phylogenetic Test for Convergence in Rock-Dwelling Lizards. Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Finkler, M.S. and J.J. Kolbe. In review. Physiology and ecology of hatchling snapping turtles. In Brooks, R.J., A.C. Steyermark, and M.S. Finkler (eds), Biology of the Snapping Turtle, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington DC

Kolbe, J.J. and F.J. Janzen. 2002. Spatial and temporal dynamics of turtle nest predation: edge effects. Oikos 99:538-544.

Kolbe, J.J., B.E. Smith, and D.M. Browning. 2002. Burrow use by tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) at a black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town in southwestern South Dakota. Herpetological Review 33:95-99.

Kolbe, J.J. and F.J. Janzen. 2002. Impact of nest-site selection on nest success and nest temperature in natural and disturbed habitats. Ecology 83:269-281.

Kolbe, J.J. and F.J. Janzen. 2002. Experimental analysis of an early life history stage: water loss and migrating hatchling turtles. Copeia 2002:220-226.

Kolbe, J.J. and F.J. Janzen. 2001. The influence of propagule size and maternal nest-site selection on survival and behaviour of neonate turtles. Functional Ecology 15:772-781.

Kolbe, J.J. 1999. Size and demographic structure of a threatened western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus, population. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 34:149-152.

Kolbe, J.J., L.J. Harmon, and D.A. Warner. 1999. New state record lengths and associated natural history notes for some Illinois snakes. Trans. Illinois State Acad. Sci. 92:133-135.

Kolbe, J.J. 1998. Natural History Notes: Terrapene ornata ornata. Diet. Herpetological Review 29:235.



CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jason J. Kolbe
Department of Biology
Campus Box 1137
Washington University
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

EMAIL:  kolbe@biology.wustl.edu
PHONE:  314.935.7256
FAX:  314.935.4432