Vince Richards
Research Assistant
Email: "Vince Richards" <ardsrich barney nova fred edu>
Web site: www.nova.edu/~ardsrich

Research Work Description:
I work as a research assistant for the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) and my research focus is population genetics with an emphasis on coral reef connectivity. I use mitochondrial DNA sequences from a variety of species including amphipods, brittle stars, and stingrays to infer patterns of gene flow and genetic biodiversity among reefs in Florida and the Caribbean. These data are directly applicable to the design of marine protected areas, which are now widely advocated as an effective tool in the conservation, recovery, and management of coral reef ecosystems.

Title of thesis/dissertation research project:
Molecular Genetic Assessment of Population Connectivity, and Biodiversity in Coral Reef Organisms: Application to Marine Protected Area (MPA) Design

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Mahmood Shivji

Academic areas of interest:
Molecular biology, evolution, and ecology.

Publications:
Richards, V.P., M. Henning, W. Witzell and M. Shivji. 2009. Species Delineation and Evolutionary History of the Globally Distributed Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari). Journal of Heredity 100(3): 273-283.

Smith, W.D., J. J. Bizzarro, V.P. Richards, J. Nielsen, J.F.Mŕrquez-Farţas, and M.S. Shivji. 2009. Morphometric convergence and molecular divergence: the taxonomic status and evolutionary history of Gymnura crebripunctata (Peters, 1869) and G. marmorata (Cooper, 1864) in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Journal of Fish Biology. 75:761-783.

Banks, K.E., Riegl, B.M., Richards, V.P., Walker, B.E., Helmle, K.P., Jordan, L.K.B., Phipps, J., Shivji, M., Spieler, R.E., Dodge, R.E. (2008) The reef tract of continental Southeast Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, USA). In: Riegl, B., Dodge, R.E. (eds) Coral Reefs of the USA. Springer-Verlag, Dordrecht, 125-172.

Shivji, M.S., and V. Richards. 2007. Bioinformatics Tools in Conservation Biology. In: Using Bioinformatics in the Exploration of Genetic Diversity. (Edited by M. He). Biomedical and Life Sciences Audio-Visual Online Presentation Series, Henry Stewart Talks Publishing. www.hstalks.com.

Richards, V.P., J.D. Thomas, M.J. Stanhope and M.S. Shivji. 2007. Genetic connectivity in the Florida reef system: comparative phylogeography of commensal invertebrates with contrasting reproductive strategies. Molecular Ecology 16: 139-157.
Download the paper.