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Kelsey Gibbons
Ph.D. student
B.S. Biology with Natural Resources and Geographic Information Systems, Central Michigan University (2008).
U-M affiliation(s)
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Contact information
University of Michigan
2095 Ruthven Museum
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079
Email: kelseygi@umich.edu
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Field of study
Population structure, dispersal patterns, animal conservation
Research interests
I am broadly interested in population structure, dispersal patterns (both present and historical), demography, sexual selection, evolution, conservation genetics, and landscape ecology. In my thesis work I hope to use a combination of molecular markers and a geographic information system (GIS) to illuminate dispersal through a fragmented or human altered landscape. As the human population expands our influence on the environment grows as well. Habitats that were once contiguous are now fragmented consequently altering landscape permeability for many species. By illuminating present and historical genetic population structure and connectivity key habitats and corridors can be identified for preservation or restoration.
Although combining genetics and GIS in the above manner is one idea I’ve had for my prospective thesis work, I am certainly open to other projects that address similar issues or use genetics or GIS. Some other areas of interest where these methods may also apply are metapopulation structure, spread of wildlife disease, captive breeding programs, reintroductions, and others.
Advisor
L. Lacey Knowles
Lab Web site
Recent publications
Gibbons, K. and B.J. Swanson. 2009. Distinguishing between recent bottleneck effects and post-glacial founder effects in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. (Submitted).
Janczak, K., K. Gibbons and K. Winnett-Murray. 2007. The effects of habitat characteristics on species composition and reproductive success of four passerines using nest boxes. Proceedings on the National Conference for Undergraduate Research 2007:810-818.
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