Todd Streelman, Assistant Professor
Ph.D.,Biology, University of South Florida, 1998
Phone: (404) 385-4435
Fax: (404) 894-0519
Office: EST 2244 / 2165
Research Interests
Evolution and Development of Functional Systems
Current Research
Research in the Streelman lab seeks creative solutions to general problems in evolutionary biology. We want to know how evolution works at multiple levels of biological organization. Our main study system is the cichlid fish assemblage of Lake Malawi, East Africa, where as many as 1,000 species have evolved in the last 500,000 years. We study cichlids in the field, in the laboratory, and in our tropical aquarium facilities. Our major research goals are to apply novel approaches to understand the genetic and developmental basis of cichlid phenotypes, and to use the cichlid model to learn new things about basic biological processes. Research is presently focused on the evolution of jaws, teeth, brains and fins because these traits have been important to cichlid diversification.
In the past few years, we have built an array of genomic resources to complement decades of natural history information. Using these tools in the context of wild cichlid populations, we aim to bridge the gap between ecology, genetics and development; and to create unique opportunities for cross-disciplinary teaching and collaboration. For example, we endeavor to work with GIT engineers, combining evolutionary genetics and biomechanics to understand cichlid jaws and teeth as dynamic, integrated and evolving functional systems.
Dr. Streelman’s research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, The National Geographic Society and the National Institutes of Health.
Selected Publications
2006 Streelman, J.T. and R.C. Albertson. Evolution of novelty in the cichlid dentition. JEZb: Molecular and Developmental Evolution, DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21101. (PDF)
2005 Hulsey, C.D., G.J. Fraser and J.T. Streelman. Evolution and development of complex biomechanical systems: 300 million years of fish jaws. Zebrafish 2: 243-257. (PDF)
2005 Albertson, R.C., J.T. Streelman, T.D. Kocher and P.C. Yelick. Integration and evolution of the cichlid mandible: the molecular basis of alternative feeding strategies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 102: 16287-16292. (PDF)
2005 Yi, S. and J.T. Streelman. Genome size is negatively correlated with effective population size in ray-finned fishes. Trends in Genetics 21: 643-646. (PDF)
2005 Denver, D.R., K. Morris, J.T. Streelman, S.K. Kim, M. Lynch and W.K. Thomas. The transcriptional consequences of mutation and natural selection in Caenorahbditis elegans. Nature Genetics 37: 544-548. (PDF)
2005 Lee, B.-Y., W.-J. Lee, J.T. Streelman, K.L. Carleton, A.E. Howe, G. Hulata, A. Slettan, J.E. Stern, Y. Terai and T.D. Kocher. A second-generation genetic linkage map of tilapia (Oreochromis spp). Genetics 170: 237-244. (PDF)
2004 Streelman, J.T., S.L. Gmyrek, M.R. Kidd, C. Kidd, R.L. Robinson, E. Hert, A.J. Ambali and T.D. Kocher. Hybridization and contemporary evolution in an introduced cichlid fish from Lake Malawi National Park. Molecular Ecology 13: 2471-2479. (PDF)
2003 Streelman, J.T., J.F. Webb, R.C. Albertson and T.D. Kocher. The cusp of evolution and development: a model of cichlid tooth shape diversity. Evolution and Development 5: 600-608. (PDF)
2003 Streelman, J.T., R.C. Albertson and T.D. Kocher. Genome mapping of the orange blotch colour pattern in cichlid fishes. Molecular Ecology 12: 2465-2471. (PDF)
2003 Albertson, R.C., J.T. Streelman and T.D. Kocher. Directional selection has shaped the oral jaws of Lake Malawi cichlid fishes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 100: 5252-5257. (PDF)
2003 Streelman, J.T. and P.D. Danley. The stages of vertebrate evolutionary radiation. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 18: 126-131. (PDF)