Michael Kinnison (MK - University of Maine):

Michael Kinnison is a population/evolutionary biologist with expertise in studying contemporary adaptation in both natural and introduced populations of fishes. MK obtained his PhD in 1999 but already has over 30 publications, including some major works (with AH and others) on measuring and interpreting rates of contemporary evolution in the wild and the role of contemporary evolution in ecology and conservation. He also co-edited (with AH) a volume on contemporary evolution containing collected works by other highly regarded authors. Among other projects, MK has performed research on clinal variation in guppy diversity in North Slope river systems of Trinidad and currently has an active research program to experimentally evaluate the interaction between gene flow and adaptation in natural populations of guppies. This program led MK to developed methods for marking and genotyping individual guppies so that he can evaluate the reproductive contributions of individuals to subsequent generations. MK’s experience with these techniques and with quantifying patterns of contemporary evolution and selection in the wild will be important to several evolutionary elements of our program. In particular, MK will coordinate DNA sampling throughout the guppy introduction experiments, and assist in the mark-recapture and phenotype measurement efforts in the field. He has already successfully executed these same steps as part of his current NSF research program. Following genotyping of guppy samples, MK will assist with pedigree reconstruction (with PB, AH and JT) and will perform animal model estimation of trait inheritance, selection and evolutionary responses in the wild. MK’s pedigree approaches will also allow us to discern aspects of sexual and natural selection influencing early evolution and to look at the process of adaptation both as changes in the mean phenotype of the populations and as the differential contribution of individuals to subsequent generations. Finally, MK will also contribute to the implementation of our stream channel experiments on the ecosystem effects of guppy and Rivulus interactions and help coordinate the development of guppy website modules summarizing our findings (building off a site he already has in construction).

more about Michael Kinnison...