Research

The field of evolutionary ecology encompasses the fields of ecology, evolution and genetics. Our work involves both field and laboratory research, often utilizing molecular analyses of mitochondrial DNA and protein allozymes.   Specific areas of current interest are:

Conservation Genetics. We assay genetic diversity of isolated populations that are often rare/endangered. Current projects include research on small mammals (mice, voles, shrews and flying squirrels) and salamanders which are found in the spruce-fir forests crowning the Southern Appalachians, and work on Galápagos cacti and bird populations.

Life-history and Reproductive Strategies. We are interested in how organisms adapt to their environment and the trade-offs that often occur in reproduction and lifespan. The majority of this work has occurred using the brine shrimp Artemia as the model organism and has involved laboratory and field work, especially in the Mediterranean region where parthenogenetic (all-female) populations of Artemia occur.

Selected Publications

Browne, R.A., E. Collins and D. Anderson. 2010. Morphological variation of Galapagos Island populations of the yellow warbler Dendroica petechia aureoloa. Galapagos Research 67:9-13.

Browne, R. A. 2010. Trophic cascade effects of fish recovery from selenium poisoning.  Hydrobiologia 655:137-148.

Crespi, E.J., R. A. Browne and L. J. Rissler. 2010. Taxonomic revision of Desmognathus wrighti based on molecular, ecological and morphological evidence. Herpetologica 66:283-295.

Price, S. J., K. K. Cecala, R. A. Browne and M. E. Dorcas. 2010. Effects of urbanization on occupancy of stream salamanders. Conservation Biology 23:38-48.

Collins, E.I. and R.A. Browne.  2008. Genetic structure of yellow warblers, Dendroica petechi in Galapagos, Ecuador.  Condor 110:544-553.

Helsen, P., R. Browne, D.  Anderson, P. Verdyck,and S. Van Dongen. 2008. Galapagos Opuntia cacti: extensive morphological diversity, low genetic diversity. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 95:661-672.

Browne, R.A. and P.M. Ferree. 2007. Genetic structure of southern Appalachian spruce-fir “sky-island” populations of the red backed vole. Journal of Mammalogy 88: 104-112

Browne, R.A. and J. LaVoie. 2005. Arboreal species richness in Piedmont North Carolina, 1764-1996. Castanea.

Arbogast, B.S., R.A. Browne, P.D. Weigl, and G.J. Kanagy. 2005. Conservation genetics of andangered flying squirrels from the Appalachian mountains of eastern North Carolina. Animal Conservation 8:1-11.

Sipe, T. W. and R. A. Browne. 2004. Intra-specific phylogeography of the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) and smoky shrew (S. fumeus) in the southern Appalachians. Journal of Mammalogy 84:161-175.

Crespi, E.J., L. J. Rissler, and R.A. Browne. 2003. Testing Pleistocene refugia theory: phylogeographic analysis of Desmognathus wrighti; a high-elevation salamander in the southern Appalachians. Molecular Ecology 12:969-984.

Browne, R.A.,D. Anderson, M.D. White and M. Johnson. 2003. Evidence for low genetic divergence among Galápagos Opuntia cactus species. Noticias de Galapágos 62:11-15.