Research: My research uses genetics to examine topical issues in the ecology and behaviour of vertebrate populations, chiefly birds and mammals. We use quantitative genetics to partition phenotypic variation into its causal components, as well as molecular genetic markers to identify kinship or taxonomic status of individuals with specific phenotypes. Specific kinship projects include lab and field studies of Tree Swallows, Chickadees and Least flycatchers, where DNA profiling explains differences between males in mating behaviour. Taxonomic projects include lab and field studies of Darwin's finches where we are using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers to reconstruct the evolution of finch populations in the Galapagos.

Graduate students and Postdoctoral Fellows are working on several other projects involving DNA profiling or 'micro-systematics' based on mitochondrial DNA. These projects increasingly emphasize the conservation applications of molecular markers, for instance to study population structure of arctic musk oxen or to help manage African rhino populations. My past research interests include field studies of bird and small mammal morphometrics and genetics, as well as feeding ecology. Much of my work is highly collaborative, and our lab consistently combines state-of-the-art molecular approaches with an interesting diversity of researchers and research topics in evolutionary biology.

»» Lab Website »« email: boagp@queensu.ca »« telephone: 613-533-6394 ««

Some Recent Publications:

• Schubert, K.A., D.J. Mennill, S.M. Ramsay, K.A. Otter, P.T. Boag and L.M. Ratcliffe. 2007. Variation in social rank acquisition influences lifetime reproductive success in black-capped chickadees. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 85-95.Tarof, S.A., L.M. Ratcliffe, M. Kasumovic, and P.T. Boag. 2005.  Are least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus ) clusters hidden leks? Behavioral Ecology 16: 207-217.
• J.W. Brown, P.J. van Coeverden de Groot, T.P. Birt, G. Seutin, P.T. Boag, V.L. Friesen. 2007. Appraisal of the consequences of the DDT-induced bottleneck on the level and geographic distribution of neutral genetic variation in Canadian peregrine falcons,Falco peregrinus.Molecular Ecology 16: 327-343.
• Anderson, D.J. and P.T. BOAG. 2006. No extra-pair fertilization observed in Nazca Booby (Sula granti) broods. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118: 244-247.
• Arbogast, B.S., S.V. Drovetski, R.L. Curry, P.T. Boag, G. Seutin, P.R. Grant, B.R. Grant and D.J. Anderson. 2006. The origin and diversification of Galapagos mockingbirds. Evolution 60: 370-382.
• Lougheed, S.C., J.D. Austin, J.P Bogart, P.T. Boag & A.A. Chek. 2006. Multicharacter perspectives on the evolution of intraspecific differentiation in a neotropical hylid frog. BMC Evolutionary Biology 6:23 (16 pages).
• Waas,J.R., P.W. Colgan and P.T. Boag. 2005. Playback of colony sound alters the breeding schedule and clutch size in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) colonies. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B 272 (1561): 383-388.
• Perez-Sweeney, B.M., C. Valladares-Padua, A.S. Burrell, A. di Fiore, J. Satkoski, P.J. van Coeverden de Groot, P.T. Boag and D.J. Melnick. 2005. Dinucleotide microsatellite primers designed for a critically endangered primate, the black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus). Molecular Ecology Notes 5: 198-201.