Research Interests

My research interests are in three areas: (1) Ecotoxicology of air pollution,  (2) evolutionary physiology, and (3) conservation genetics of endemic and invasive species.  Tools we use range from molecular and cellular to whole animal, spanning molecular and quantitative genetics, genomics, and phylogenetic techniques.  Our research team includes three Chaminade University undergraduates; 

We have opportunities for the academic year and for summer research (open to other University students).

1.     Ecotoxicology of air pollution.  With support from NIH - National Center for Research Resources through an INBRE grant to UH-Manoa, we are investigating how the air-borne oxidant pollutant ozone (O₃) influence and promote inflammatory processes in the vertebrate lung. Our current focus is on whether ozone and other oxidants can serve as triggers for EMT, the epithelial to mesenchyme transition.  EMT has been implicated as important process in lung fibrotic diseases and cancer. We are studying gene expression in the lung cell line CCL-149 via RT-PCR and microarray to gain a better understanding of how O₃ exposure contributes to pulmonary disease.  Additionally, we study mechanisms involved with inflammatory processes in lung epithelial cells (mouse, rat, human, and gecko). Among the processes we look at are whether cells distinguish between O₃ and other oxidants (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) by comparing gene expression (the transcriptome) and cytokine production (the proteome). For more, click here.

2.     Evolutionary physiology.  I maintain an active interest in the evolution of locomotor performance and activity metabolism of vertebrates and use of quantitative genetics approaches for dissecting genetic basis of complex phenotypes.  My graduate studies at University of Wisconsin under Drs. Ted Garland (now Professor of Biology at University of California - Riverside) and Jack Hayes (postdoctoral fellow, now Professor of Biology at University of Nevada - Reno), focused on genetic and environmental bases of individual variation in locomotor performance (sprint running speed, swimming and running endurance) and whole-animal metabolism (basal [BMR], standard [SMR], field [FMR], maximal [VO₂max]) in small vertebrates (rodents, lizards, snakes, amphibians).  Since most activities that animals engage in involve locomotion (foraging, mate acquisition, defense), locomotor performance can be the object of natural selection (escape from predation), and the functional basis of locomotion is relatively well known. Therefore, these traits are important components of Darwinian fitness.  Examples of the kinds of issues I have studied include: genetic bases of individual and population differences in locomotor performance, whole-animal metabolic rates, and their functional correlates; functional limits to altitude acclimation; empirical and theoretical aspects of trade-offs and constraints; evolution of endothermy.

      For my current research in Evolutionary Physiology, click here.

3.       Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Projects.  We are conducting three projects on genetic variation among groups of island species.  

A.             The first project seeks to test for latitudinal variation (clines) on O`ahu for the alcohol dehydrogenase gene for the invasive fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster.  We are using a bi-phasa PCR technique to isolate alleles from samples of flies collected from three elevational transects along the southern, central, and northern portions of the island.  This project is intended to establish baseline information about the current geographic variation of populationos of D. melanogaster on O`ahu as we develop isofemale lines for additional genetic inquiries.

B.             A second project is using genetic markers (RAPDS, mtDNA) to investigate population phylogeography of introduced, and now invasive, red algae Gracilaria salicornia.  This species was first introduced to Waikiki and Kane’ohe Bay on Oahu in the early 1970’s as part of a failed effort to establish an aquafarming (for agar).  Since then, the red algae has become established at several locations and may threaten coral health.  The algae forms thick mats and can cover coral reefs.  One technique for removal involves picking plants away from the reef by hand – this is very time consuming, of course, and may also inadvertantly contribute to the spread of the of the invasion because the algae can propagate asexually by fragmentation.  Ron Iwamoto at Chaminade University is a major collaborator with this project.

C.             A third project is looking at a proposed hybrid species between two species of native sandalwoods.  This project also involves heavy reliance on genetic markers.