PATRICIA E. SALERNO 

Biological diversity is not evenly distributed around the globe. Understanding the causes of high endemicity and diversity, as well as the maintenance of that diversity, is a topic that has fascinated me along many other biogeographers. My main research line focuses on understanding aspects of history and geography that can shape the evolution of lineages, both in recent and ancient timescales.  My PhD research focused on understanding the enormous endemicity of amphibians atop the "sky islands" or Lost World of Venezuela (pictured on top), one of the world's endemicity hotspots. Most recently I am studying Sumaco Volcano, a fascinating sky island rising from a lush sea of Amazon rainforest, which has received little attention and is likely to hold vast amounts of unknown diversity and endemicity. I have also worked on biogeography and conservation genomics of the Channel Islands of California, another endemicity hotspot.  I also collaborate on other projects such as systematics and taxonomy of South American frogs and reptiles, ecological and evolutionary effects of extreme disturbances, and genomics of disease ecology in North American  mountain lions. See below for more details of my research projects and other interests.