Christopher Blair

Christopher Blair's research uses genomic data from reptiles and amphibians to test hypotheses related to the origins of biodiversity. Much of his work lies in the areas of phylogenomics, phylogeography and species delimitation. The majority of projects combine field work, molecular laboratory work, and sophisticated computational methods that are used to estimate evolutionary history with genome-scale data sets. Blair also maintains an active interest in DNA barcoding techniques.

Awards and Grants

Current

• NSF DEB: Partial lizard genomes and new analytical tools provide a novel conceptual framework for understanding biogeographic patterns throughout the deserts of western North America
• PSC-CUNY: Using genomics to elucidate phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and diversification patterns of true vipers (Viperidae: Viperinae) throughout the Old World

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

• Society of Systematic Biologists, American Genetic Association.

Courses Taught

• Graduate: Molecular Systematics and Biogeography, Molecular Ecology
• Undergraduate: General Biology, Genetics, Evolution, Molecular Evolution & Phylogenetics, Biomedical Informatics Colloquium

Recent Publications

• Jadin RC, Jowers MJ, Orlofske SA, Duellman WE, Blair C, Murphy JC. 2020. A new vine snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Oxybelis) from southeastern Peru and a redescription of O. acuminatus. Evolutionary Systematics, in press.
• Jadin RC, Orlofske SA, Jezkova T, Blair C. 2020. Single-locus species delimitation and ecological niche modeling provide insights into the evolution, historical distribution, and taxonomy of the Pacific Chorus Frogs. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, in press.
• Jadin RC, Blair C, Orlofske SA, Jowers MJ, Rivas GA, Vitt LJ, Ray JM, Smith EN, Murphy JC. 2020. Not withering on the evolutionary vine: Systematic revision of the Brown Vine Snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Oxybelis) from its northern distribution. Organisms, Diversity & Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-020-00461-0.
• Ramirez-Reyes T, Blair C, Flores-Villela O, Piñero D, Lathrop A, Murphy RW. 2020. Phylogenomics and molecular species delimitation reveals great cryptic diversity of leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylidae: Phyllodactylus), ancient origins, and diversification in Mexico. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 150, online early.
• Yu, Y, Blair C, He X. 2020. RASP 4: ancestral state reconstruction tool for multiple genes and characters. Molecular Biology and Evolution 37:604-606.
• Blair C, Ané C. 2020. Phylogenetic trees and networks can serve as powerful and complementary approaches for analysis of genomic data. Systematic Biology 69:593-601.
• Jadin, RC, Blair C, Jowers MJ, Carmona A, Murphy JC. 2019. Hiding in the lianas of the tree of life: molecular phylogenetics and species delimitation reveal considerable cryptic diversity of New World Vine Snakes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 134:61-65.
• Jiménez-Arcos VH, Calzada-Arciniega RA, Alfaro-Juantorena LA, Vázquez-Reyes LD, Blair C, Parra-Olea G. 2018. A new species of Charadrahyla (Anura: Hylidae) from the cloud forest of western Oaxaca, Mexico. Zootaxa 4554:371-385.
• Blair C, Bryson RW, Linkem CW, Lazcano D, Klicka J, McCormack J. 2018. Cryptic diversity in the Mexican highlands: thousands of UCE loci help illuminate phylogenetic relationships, species limits and divergence times in montane rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus). Molecular Ecology Resources 19:349-365.
• Blair C, Bryson RW. 2017. Cryptic diversity and discordance in single-locus species delimitation methods within horned lizards (Phrynosomatidae: Phrynosoma). Molecular Ecology Resources 17:1168-1182.