Cameron D. Siler, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Curator of Herpetology, Sam Noble Museum Of Natural History
A fundamental theme in science that has captivated researchers for generations is simply how and why species evolve. My lab is interested in using genetic patterns to understand evolutionary processes associated with terrestrial biodiversity on our planet, largely focused on amphibians and reptiles. We employ a broad, multifaceted approach to expand our understanding of the planet’s biodiversity, including investigating the evolution of morphology and body-form, patterns of diversification, cryptic diversity, and speciation in continental and island archipelago systems. Additionally, we have a number of initiatives in areas of wildlife management, microbiomics, and emerging infectious amphibian and reptile diseases. A few active research topics in my lab are listed below.
Phylogenetics and Patterns of Diversification.—My lab actively explores patterns and processes of species-level diversification and morphological character evolution, focusing on understanding the biogeographic and evolutionary histories of North American and Southeast Asian organismal systems. Projects currently underway combine comparative phylogenetic datasets, ecological modeling, and bioinformatic perspectives in studying the role that geographic and ecological forces play in diversification processes.
Conservation and Landscape -Omics.—A growing area of research in our lab is in conservation -omics aimed at studying evolutionary processes at the nexus of host organisms and their associated microbiomes, venom systems, and emerging infectious wildlife diseases.
Biodiversity Research and Education Outreach.—A large component of my research program involves efforts to survey the diversity of amphibians and reptiles across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Thailand, and Borneo. In parallel, my lab works with state and federal agencies in the US to assess and monitor native populations of amphibians and reptiles in Oklahoma. Data resulting from these surveys is used to direct conservation efforts and identify threatened species. Many of our surveys have resulted in the discovery of new species!
Marske, K. A., H. C. Lanier, C. D. Siler, A. H. Rowe & L. Stein. 2023. Perspective: Integrating biogeography and behavioral ecology to rapidly address biodiversity loss. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 120(15):e2110866120.
Smith, S. N., J. L. Watters & C. D. Siler. 2023. Host ecology drives frog skin microbiome diversity across ecotones in South-Central North America. Frontiers in Microbiomes. 2:1286985. doi.org/10.3389/frmbi.2023.1286985
Oaks, J. R., P. L. Wood Jr., C. D. Siler & R. M. Brown. 2022. Generalizing Bayesian phylogenetics to infer shared evolutionary events. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. 19(29):e2121036119. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121036119
Brown, J. C., M. H. Shirley, A. Yog-yog, M. van Weerd, M. G. Balbas, B. A. Tarun & C. D. Siler. 2021. Use of diet and body condition assessments as intermediate indicators of translocation success in the Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 31:2817–2829. doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3700
Siler, C. D., E. S. Freitas, T. Yuri, L. Souza & J. L. Watters. 2021. Development and validation of four environmental DNA assays for species of conservation concern in the South-Central United States. Conservation Genetics Resources. 13(1):35–40. doi.org/10.1007/s12686-020-01167-3
