Curator of Ornithology
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History
Box 454012
University of Nevada Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Parkway - Box 454012
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-2749 / fax (702) 895-3094
klicka@unlv.nevada.edu
 
 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The evolution, biogeography, molecular systematics, and natural history of New World nine-primaried oscine songbirds at all taxonomic levels.
 

RESEARCH STATEMENT

Much of my research involves using DNA sequences to reconstruct phylogenetic hypotheses of songbird relationships. Such phylogenies, the cornerstone of modern comparative methods, provide a necessary framework for studying the evolution of various avian traits. Characters examined in this context can include behaviors (such as migration), morphological traits (such as size, osteological characters, or plumage coloration), or distributions through time and space (biogeography).

For example, in an ongoing study, we are constructing a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of New World sparrows (Family Emberizidae). Among the many questions that we will be able to address: 1) Is the "sparrow" assemblage as presently recognized a monophyletic group?; 2) Is the Old World genus Emberiza ancestral to the New-World sparrows or does it represent a derived sparrow form that secondarily colonized the Old World?; 3) Approximately when did the speciation events in this group occur and are the timing of these events coincident with any known episodes of change in earth history (e.g. glaciations, regional uplifting, rifts, etc.)?; and, 4) to what extent do morphological characters (the traditional means of evaluating relationships) track the molecular phylogeny?

In another study at a different taxonomic level, we are exploring geographic patterns of genetic variation among fragmented populations of a widespread marsh-dwelling warbler, the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). In addition to answering similar questions, we will use a coalescense approach to evaluate population histories and to estimate levels of gene flow among populations. This work has important conservation implications as two of the sampled populations represent Federally listed subspecies.

The research described above revolves around DNA labwork and phylogenetic analyses but it begins with fieldwork. Within the Barrick Museum ornithology group, specimen-based research is emphasized. Birds collected and prepared as specimens during field expeditions contribute not only to our own research programs but they also provide a valuable resource that is available to the general ornithological community. In recent years our efforts have been focused on southern Nevada, southern Africa, and Central America.
 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Klicka, J., C. W. Thompson, A. Fry, and R. M. Zink. 2001. A molecular phylogeny for the avian genus Passerina and some
    allies. The Auk 118:611-623.

Klicka, J., K. P. Johnson, and S. M. Lanyon. 2000. New World nine-primaried oscine relationships: constructing a molecular
    framework. The Auk 117:321-336.

Klicka, J., J. C. Barlow, W. B. McGillivray, T. J. Doyle, and R. M. Zink. 1999. Evidence supporting the recent origin and
    species status of the Timberline Sparrow. Condor 101:577-588.

Klicka, J., and R. M. Zink. 1999. Pleistocene phylogeographic effects on avian evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
    London, Series B. 266:695-700.

Klicka, J., and R. M. Zink. 1998. Pleistocene speciation and the mitochondrial DNA clock: A response to Arbogast and
    Slowinski. Science 282:1955a

Klicka, J., and R. M. Zink. 1997. The importance of recent ice ages in speciation: A failed paradigm. Science 277:1666-1669.

Winker, K.S., B.A. Fall, J.T. Klicka, D.F. Parmelee, and H.B. Tordoff. 1991. The importance of avian collections and the
    need for continued collecting. The Loon 63:238-246.