Laboratory of Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology

I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in comparative evolutionary genomics related to the evolution of developmental pathways, particularly those that underlie the development of the sexual phenotype.

In most animals, sex is determined by genotypic mechanisms (GSD). However, in some vertebrates sex is determined by the environmental temperature (TSD), as occurs commonly in reptiles (Valenzuela and Lance 2004). Why sex is determined by nest temperature in many reptiles remains one of the most fascinating conundrums in evolutionary biology (Valenzuela 2004a, b). This is due in part to the incomplete understanding of how TSD works at the molecular level and how it differs from GSD systems in closely related taxa. These questions are central to my research as I endeavor to decipher the proximate and ultimate forces that generate the outstanding lability of sex determining mechanisms.

An important component of the research in my lab relates to the evolution of life histories, population and ecological genetics, and tropical biology, particularly of reptiles. This component, which addresses basic questions in evolutionary ecology, provides a critical view to the ecological context in which sex determining mechanisms evolve, and is also the basis of our conservation component.

Indeed, the design of effective management strategies must be based on solid biological information about the target taxa, and my lab attempts to provide basic comprehensive knowledge that helps facilitate the conservation of endangered reptiles.

Available Again

Temperature-dependent Sex Determination in Vertebrates

One of the hottest topics in evolutionary biology and conservation biology for decades, temperature- dependent sex determination (TSD) was discovered in the 1960's, yet no book has ever before been devoted entirely to the subject. Authored by many of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject, this is a comprehensive work that compiles, analyzes and integrates existing information about this field.

Distributed by NBN / Rowman & Littlefield (www.rowmanlittlefield.com)
Available through book retailers.