Dr. Paula Mabee
Professor of Biology
Research Interests
The research in my lab is centered on understanding the development & evolution of the vertebrate skeleton from morphological and molecular perspectives.
Evolutionary trees: We are comparing the developmental anatomy of various species of cypriniform fishes (zebrafish and other minnows, carps, loaches) with the twin goals of inferring phylogenetic relationships and clarifying homology. This work is funded by an NSF Tree of Life grant.- Developmental morphology & genetics: Using Danio rerio, the zebrafish, and other fishes (including the local paddlefish) we are evaluating hypotheses pertaining to the developmental genetic pathways underlying the formation of the skeleton in fishes. Our recent focus has been on the evolution of segments (joints) in fish fins.
- Informatics: If evolutionary morphology is databased using ontologies, comparative morphology data from evolutionary studies of cypriniform fishes can be synthesized with the genetic data associated with zebrafish phenotypes. Among other things, this would allow queries regarding candidate genes underlying evolutionary transitions, information that cannot be retrieved using current methods.
Selected Publications
2006. Mabee P.M. Integrating evolution and development: The need for bioinformatics in evo devo. BioScience 56(4): 301-309.
2004. Crotwell P.L., Sommervold A.R., Mabee P.M. Expression of bmp2a and bmp2b in late-stage zebrafish median fin development. Gene Expression Patterns 5: 291-296.
2004. Mabee, P.M. and M. Noordsy. Development of the paired fins in the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula. Journal of Morphology 261: 334-344.
2003. Bird N.C., Mabee P.M. The developmental morphology of the axial skeleton of the zebrafish, Danio rerio (Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae). Developmental Dynamics 228: 337-357.
2000. Mabee, P.M, K. L. Olmstead, and C. C. Cubbage. An experimental study of intraspecific variation, developmental timing and heterochrony in fishes. Evolution 54: 2091-2106.
2003. Fisher, S. and Mabee, P.M. Skeletogenesis in zebrafish Danio rerio: evolutionary and developmental aspects. In: Molecular Aspects in Fish and Marine Biology (ed. C. L. Hew). Singapore: World Scientific Press. 27 pages.
2002. Mabee, P. M., Crotwell, P. L., Burke, A. C. and N. C. Bird. Evolution of median fin modules in the axial skeleton of fishes. Journal of Experimental Biology: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 294: 77-90.
2001. Crotwell, P.L., Clark, T.G. and P.M. Mabee. Gdf5 is expressed in the developing skeleton of median fins of late-stage zebrafish, Danio rerio. Development, Genes, and Evolution 211: 555-558.
2000. Mabee, P.M. Developmental data and phylogenetic systematics: evolution of the vertebrate limb. American Zoologist 40(5): 789-800.
2000. Mabee, P.M, K. L. Olmstead, and C. C. Cubbage. An experimental study of intraspecific variation, developmental timing and heterochrony in fishes. Evolution 54: 2091-2106.
1996. Cubbage, C. and P.M. Mabee. Development of the cranium and paired fins in the zebrafish Danio rerio (Ostariophysi, Cyprindae). Journal of Morphology 229: 121-160.
1994. Collazo, A.C., S.E. Fraser and P.M. Mabee. A dual embryonic origin for vertebrate mechanoreceptors. Science 264: 426-430.
1993. Mabee, P.M. and J. Humphries. Coding polymorphic data: Examples from allozymes and ontogeny. Systematic Biology 42: 166-181.
1993. Mabee, P.M. Phylogenetic interpretation of ontogenetic change: sorting out the actual and artifactual in an empirical case study of centrarchid fishes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 107: 175-291.
Handheld Birds (National Geographic)
In an NSF-funded (Phase I and II) partnership with PullUIn Software, we developed Handheld Birds, a digital field guide for birds that combines audio recordings, images, and text descriptions in an innovative, searchable application for handheld devices. Identification is facilitated by progressively narrowing the search based on state, time of year, and additional characteristics.
Related Publications
2004. Carlisle J.D., Hoff H.S., and P.M. Mabee. Breeding bird inventory of Spirit Mound Historic Prairie in Clay County - an area being restored to tallgrass prairie. South Dakota Bird Notes 56: 32-37.
2004. Mabee, P. M. and H. S. Hoff. Review of bird checklisting programs. Birding December: 650-654.