More information on chondrocranial work done under NSF C-RUI grant 9510228 . Molecular systematics of the genus Leptodactylus . Systematics and courtship behavior of fish in the genus Cynolebias . We track the development of bones as cartilaginous larval structures ossify prior to and during metamorphosis. Use of characters derived from such studies complement characters of adult morphology and help to further elucidate evolutionary relationships among species.
Oral anatomy provides an insight into the ecology and resources used by different species.
These data can also be use to determine evolutionary relationships between species. At left is the roof of the oral cavity of Phyllomedusa boliviana . I use molecular techniques, such as sequencing of ribosomal DNA genes, as another tool in phylogenetic analysis. At left is an example of two alternative phylogenetic trees of the relationships of the frog genus Silurana tested using molecular data. Integration of data sets derived from use of these techniques, combined with data from resources such as adult morphology, behavioral analysis, and natural history characteristics is a powerful means by which phylogenetic questions can be addressed.