Dr. Courtney Whitcher
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Houston
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Email:
Research
I am broadly interested in the micro and macroevolutionary processes driving trait variation and evolution.
My current project focuses on the evolution of biofluorescence in treefrogs. With its recent discovery in amphibians and unique manipulation of environmental signals, frog biofluorescence offers a novel and exciting system in which to study trait evolution. My research examines the function, mechanism, and evolution of this novel trait.
The Evolution of Biofluorescence
Function
Mechanism
Effect on Speciation
I have found frog species with biofluorescence of biologically important regions of the organism (vocal sac, toxic secretions, etc.). The first chapters of my dissertation test for the potential function of biofluorescence in mate choice and predation of frogs.
As the mechanism of biofluorescence is only known in one frog species (Taboada et al. 2017), and there are hundreds of fluorophores found in nature, my research also aims to examine the mechanism of amphibian biofluorescence. I am testing for both a chemical and genetic mechanism of this novel trait.
Utilizing ancestral state reconstruction methods, I am mapping these traits of biofluorescence across genus and species-level trees to examine the evolution of this trait and its effect on speciation rate.
Photos from the Field
All organisms pictured were handled with the appropriate permits