This page has been viewed times since December, 1998. Moira J. van Staaden M.Sc. My research is motivated by the idea of behavior as a causal force in evolution. Current projects are exploring how acoustic communication, breeding tactics, dispersal and territorial systems affect the microgeographic genetic structure and evolutionary history of populations and species.
Taxonomic range covers mammals, amphibians, fish and insects.
Present work focuses on bladder grasshoppers in southern Africa and orthoptera in the Venezuelan rainforest canopy. Other interests are conservation genetics, adaptive radiations, and hybrid zones. Evolutionary transition from stretch to hearing organs in ancient grasshoppers. Spatial analysis of microgeographic genetic structure in Richardson's ground squirrels . Acta Theriologica Suppl.