Achievement

Zach Culumber was awarded a NSF-DDIG to continue studying the genetic consequences of stream contamination to biodiversity in Mexico. He spent much of last year in the field in Mexico. This strengthened his collaboration with local residents and indigenous organizations and Mexican university researchers in Calnali, Mexico to carry out the research and the consider implications for long-term health of social and ecological communities in the region. He is investigating the interaction between the swordtail mating system and the genetics of hybridization that have resulted from break down of the swordtail's ability to recognize other individuals of their own species.