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Robert Wood, Ph.D.

Professor
Biology


Courses Taught

Evolution, Honors Evolution, Principles of Phylogenetic Systematics, Aquatic Ecology

Education

Ph.D., University of Alabama 

Research Interests

Wood's research focuses on reconstructing phylogenetic/evolutionary relationships among North American freshwater fishes. He employs primarily molecular character sets (i.e. DNA sequence data sets) in phylogenetic reconstruction, although he also uses both morphological and allozyme data sets for this purpose. Wood is primarily focused on two groups of stream dwelling fishes: darters and minnows.

Publications and Media Placements

Dillman, C. B., R. M. Wood, J.M. Ray, R. L. Mayden, and B.R. Kuhajda. 2007. Molecular Systematics of the Shovelnose Sturgeons (Scaphirhynchinae) of North America and Central Asia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:290-296.

Ray, J.M., R.M. Wood, C.B. Dillman, R. L. Mayden, and B.R. Kuhajda. 2007. Microsatellite analysis of the endangered river sturgeons (Scaphirhynchus species) from the lower Mississippi River Basin. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:304-312.

Kuhajda, B. R., R. L. Mayden and R. M. Wood. 2007. Morphological comparisons of hatchery-reared specimens of Scaphirhynchus albus, S. platorynchus, and S. albus x S. platorynchus hybrids (Acipenseriformes: Acipenseridae). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23:324-347.

Mayden R. L., R. M. Wood, N. J. Lang, C. B. Dillman, and J. F. Switzer. 2006. Phylogenetic relationships of species of the darter genus Etheostoma (Perciformes: Percidae): Evidence from parsimony and Bayesian analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome b Sequences, p. 20-39. In: Ma. De Lourdes Lozano-Vilano and Armando J. Contreras-Balderas (Eds.). Studies of North American Desert Fishes in Honor of E. P. (Phil) Pister, Conservationist. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Mayden, R. L., A. M. Simons, R. M. Wood, P. M. Harris, and B. R. Kuhajda. 2006. Molecular Systematics and classification of North American Notropin shiners and minnows (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), p. 000-000. In: Ma. De Lourdes Lozano-Vilano and Armando J. Contreras-Balderas (Eds.). Studies of North American Desert Fishes in Honor of E. P. (Phil) Pister, Conservationist. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

J.M. Ray, R.M. Wood, A.M. Simons. 2006. Phylogeography and post-colonization patterns of the rainbow darter Etheostoma caeruleum (Teleostei: Percidae). Journal of Biogeography 33(9):1550-1558.

Miya, M., K. Saitoh, R.M. Wood, M. Nishida, and R.L. Mayden. 2005. New primers for amplifying and sequencing the mitochondrial ND4/ND5 gene region of the Cypriniformes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi). Ichthyological Research. 53(1):75-81.

Kinziger, A.P., R.M. Wood, and D.A. Neely. 2005. Molecular systematics and classification of Cottus and the Baikalian Cottoids (Scorpaeniformes). Copeia 2005(2):303-311.

C. L. Morrison, D. P. Lemarie, R.M. Wood. and T. L. King. 2005. Phylogeographic analyses suggests multiple lineages of Crystallaria asprella (Percidae: Etheostominae). Conservation Genetics 2005(7): 129-147.

Berendzen, P.B., A.M. Simons, and R.M. Wood. 2003 Phylogeography of the northern hogsucker, Hypentelium nigricans (Teleostei: Cypriniformes): genetic evidence for the existence of the ancient Teays River. Journal of Biogeography, 30, 1139-1152.

R. M. Wood and R. L. Mayden. 2003. Speciation and anagenesis in the genus Cyprinella (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): A case study of Model III allopatric speciation. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 12:253-271.

Kinziger, A.P. and R.M. Wood. 2003. Molecular systematics of the Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus) species complex. Copeia. 2003(3):624-627.