David S. McLeod
Current Research
I am interested in many things from insects to amphibians, ecology to systematics, and exploration to conservation. My current work is focused on understanding the evolutionary history of cryptic species comlexes. In particular, much of my research is focused on the Limnonectes kuhlii complex: a group of fanged frogs from southeast Asia. The diversity in this complex of more than 20 species has mostly gone unrecognized for the past 200 years and the goal of myself and colleagues is to identify and describe this diversity. I use morphological, molecular, and other means for understanding and conserving this diversity. I am also working on projects locally in Virginia at Mountain Lake Biological Station through the Summer REU program .
Biodiversity Conservation
We face a great deal of uncertainty with respect to the effects of climate change and how organisms will respond and adapt. My research themes are united under the umbrella of Biodiversity, and conservation becomes a major theme and is the focus of my research in the US and in Southeast Asia. I am particularly interested in emerging diseases such as Chytridiomycosis and how this affects populations and species.
Amphibian Morphology
As a morphologist, I am interested in how organisms are put together and how they function. To understand the morphology of amphibians (in particular), I am using both traditional and modern approaches. I am currently focused on the use of microCT data and using it to develop 3D reconstructions of anatomical features.
Systematics and Biodiversity
Ultimately, I am interested in the stewardship of the planet. For me this means that we start by recognizing biodiversity and we work towards conserving it. Much of this work falls into the field of systematics that (a) provides scientific names for organisms, (b) describes them, (c) preserves collections of them, (d) provides classifications for the organisms, keys for their identification, and data on their distributions, (e) investigates their evolutionary histories, and (f) considers their environmental adaptations. (Mitchner et al. 1970)
Molecular Phylogenetics
I use molecular data to develop and test phylogenetic hypotheses. These hypotheses (trees) provide a framework for understanding relationships, morphology, biogeographic patterns, and more.