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| Research & Collections > Genetic Resources > Robb Brumfield
 | Robb Brumfield
Associate Curator of Genetic Resources, and
Associate Professor of Biology
119 Foster Hall
Museum of Natural Science
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Email: brumfld at lsu.edu
Telephone: 225-578-3081
Fax: 225-578-3075
Lab Web Page: www.museum.lsu.edu/brumfield.html |
Bio:
As an LSU undergraduate I had the opportunity to spend two months in Peru as a field assistant, an experience that helped inspire me to pursue a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology. I subsequently entered the Masters program at Illinois State University, where I worked with LSU alum Angelo Capparella on the diversification of South American birds. In 1993 I began a doctoral program at the University of Maryland with Mike Braun. After finishing up in 1999, I moved to Seattle for a 3-year NSF Post-doc with Scott Edwards. I came full circle when I landed a job at the Museum. I started here in January 2003.
Daniel Lane, Robb, and Peruvian student Miriam Torres enjoying a good dinner at the end of the 2004 Peru expedition | Research Interests:
A unifying theme in my research projects is the desire to understand the evolutionary and ecological forces that impact patterns of genetic and morphological differentiation, both within species and at higher taxonomic levels. I particularly like detailed studies of single species, but with the results placed in the context of the species’ higher level evolutionary relationships. I am also interested in population genetic and phylogenetic analytical methods, and the use of simulations to explore them. Since arriving at LSU, I have taken advantage of the wonderful frozen tissue collection here and embarked on projects reconstructing species-level phylogenies of antbirds (Thamnophilidae) and ovenbirds (Furnariidae). These phylogenies provide the framework for investigations of morphological and behavioral evolution, as well as historical biogeography. At the species level, I am examining the dynamics of hybrid zones as conduits for adaptive evolution in Manacus manakins in Panama and in the Variable Antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) in Bolivia. |
Courses
Principles of Genetics, BIOL 2153, taught Fall semester of even years
Evolutionary Genetics, BIOL 7800, taught Fall semester of odd years
Molecular Evolution Seminar, BIOL 7946, every semester
Undergraduate Research, BIOL 3999, most semesters
Independent Readings, BIOL 7995, periodically
Dissertation Research, BIOL 9999, most semesters | 
Weighing LSU’s first specimen of Coiba Spinetail (Cranioleuca dissita) on Isla Coiba, Panama. |
Selected Publications
Molecular Evolution
Carling, M.D., and R. T. Brumfield. 2007. Gene sampling strategies for multi-locus population genetic estimates of theta. PLoS One 2:e160.
Cheviron, Z. A., S. J. Hackett, and R. T. Brumfield. 2006. Sequence variation in the coding region of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene (MC1R) is not associated with plumage variation in the Blue-crowned Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata). Proc. Royal Soc. London Series B 273:1613-1618.
Witt, C. C., and R. T. Brumfield. 2004. Comment on "Are rates of speciation and molecular evolution correlated?" Science 303:173.
Brumfield, R. T., P. Beerli, D. A. Nickerson, and S. V. Edwards. 2003. The utility of single nucleotide polymorphisms in inferences of population history. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18:249-256.
Hybrid Zones
Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, and R. T. Brumfield. 2005. Clinal variation in vocalizations of an antbird (Thamnophilidae) and implications for defining species limits. Auk 122:433-444.
Brumfield, R. T., R. W. Jernigan, D. B. McDonald, and M. J. Braun. 2001. Evolutionary implications of divergent clines in an avian (Manacus; Aves) hybrid zone. Evolution 55:2070-2087.
McDonald, D. B., M. J. Braun, R. T. Brumfield, and R. P. Clay. 2001. Sexual selection on plumage and behavior in an avian hybrid zone: experimental tests of male-male interactions. Evolution 55:1443-1451.
Phylogenetics
Brumfield, R. T., and M. J. Braun. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships in bearded manakins (Pipridae; Manacus) indicate that male plumage color is a misleading taxonomic marker. Condor 103:248-258.
Braun, M. J., and R. T. Brumfield. 1998. Enigmatic phylogeny of skuas: An alternative hypothesis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 265:995-999.
Brumfield, R. T., D. L. Swofford, and M. J. Braun. 1997. Evolutionary relationships among the potoos (Nyctibiidae) based on isozymes. Ornithological Monographs 48:129-145.
Brumfield, R. T., and A. P. Capparella. 1996. Genetic differentiation and taxonomy in the Troglodytes aedon (House Wren) species group. Condor 98:547-556.
Biogeography/Taxonomy/Distributions
Brumfield, R. T., and S. V. Edwards. 2007. Evolution into and out of the Andes: a Bayesian analysis of historical diversification in Thamnophilus antshrikes. Evolution.
Whitney, B. M., D. C. Oren, and R. T. Brumfield. 2004. A new species of Thamnophilus antshrike (Aves: Thamnophilidae) from the Serra do Divisor, Acre, Brazil. Auk 121:1031-1039.
Brumfield, R. T., O. Maillard Z., R. C. Faucett, G. Sánchez, V. G. Rohwer, J. C. Catari, C. G. Schmitt, D. C. Schmitt, R. Strem, and A. M. Mamani. 2004. Birds of the Laguna Kaucaya area, a semi-humid valley in the Andean foothills of departamento Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Ornitologia Neotropical 15:381-398.
Remsen, J. V., Jr., and R. T. Brumfield. 1998. Two new subspecies of Cinnycerthia fulva (Aves: Troglodytidae) from the southern Andes. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 111:1008-1015.
Brumfield, R. T., and A. P. Capparella. 1996. Historical diversification of birds in northwestern South America: A molecular perspective on the role of vicariant events. Evolution 50:1607-1624. |
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