Jeff DaCosta

dacostaj(at)unlv.nevada.edu
(702) 895-1484 Office

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Department of Biological Sciences
Marjorie Barrick Museum (MBM)

I am generally interested in the evolution, systematics, and biogeography of birds, and my research uses molecular phylogenetics to explore these broad issues.

My main research project is a collaboration with my academic advisor, Dr. John Klicka, which involves an analysis of the molecular phylogenetics of the New World trogons (Genus Trogon), a group of 17 species that are collectively distributed across the Neotropics. We are in the process of analyzing DNA sequence data from all species in this group to establish the relationships among taxa. Additionally, intensive sampling of all species will be used to address intraspecific molecular diversity, character trait evolution, and patterns in diversification. These data will be used to infer the evolutionary history of this genus, and can be used as a model to compare with other Neotropical taxa.