Website: http://nicholaskfletcher.weebly.com/
Research Interests
I am broadly interested in speciation, conservation genomics and evolutionary history of small mammals. I am especially interested in using genetic data to examine rapid evolution in response to glacial cycles and isolation on islands. My current project is focused on the radiation of voles in the genus Microtus and how historical processes have driven the extraordinary speciation rate in this group. I am using next-generation sequencing techniques such as Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) and low coverage whole genome sequencing, as well as taking advantage of hybrid zones to understand these processes. The majority of my work is focused on the U.K. and surrounding islands.
Brief CV
- 2009 – BA in Integrative Biology, University of California – Berkeley
- 2011-2012 – Research Technician, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
- 2012-2019 – PhD Student, Cornell University
- 2012-2013 – Presidential Life Sciences Fellow
- 2014-2015 – Center for Vertebrate Genomics Fellow
- 2019 – PhD, Cornell University
- 2019-2020 – Part-time Instructor, Montgomery College
- 2020-Present – Lecturer, University of Maryland
Courses TA’d
- BIOEE 1780 – An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity
- BIOEE 2740 – The Vertebrates: Structure, Function, and Evolution (3x)
- BIOEE 2070 – Evolution
- BIOEE 4701 – Herpetology, Laboratory
- BIOEE 4501 – Mammalogy, Laboratory
Courses as Instructor:
- BIOEE 1780 – Galapagos Writing in the Majors (click here for student articles)
- BIOEE 2070/STS 2871 – Evolution
Publications:
Genova, L.A., Johnson, B.B., Castelli, F.R., Arcila Hernández, L.M., Chang van Oordt, D.A., Demery, A.J., Fletcher, N.K., Goud, E.M., Holmes, K.D., Houtz, J.L. and Howard, M.M., (2020). What is Speciation, How Does It Occur, and Why Is It Important for Conservation? CourseSource, 7. [CourseSource]
Taft, H. R., McCoskey, D. N., Miller, J. M., Pearson, S. K., Coleman, M. A., Fletcher, N. K., Mittan, C. S., Meek, M. H., & Barbosa, S. (2020). Research–management partnerships: An opportunity to integrate genetics in conservation actions. Conservation Science and Practice, 2, e218. [Wiley]
Mason, N.A., Fletcher, N.K., Gill, B., Funk, W.C., Zamudio, K.R., (2020). Coalescent-based species delimitation is sensitive to geographic sampling and isolation by distance. Systematics and Biodiversity, 18, 269-280. [Taylor & Francis]
Lou, R.N., Fletcher, N.K., Wilder, A.P., Conover, D.O., Therkildsen, N.O. & Searle, J.B., 2018. Full mitochondrial genome sequences reveal new insights about postglacial expansion and regional phylogeographic structure in the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia). Marine Biology, 165, 124. [Springer]
Fletcher, N. K., Acevedo, P., Paupério, J. Alves, P.C., Herman, J.S., & Searle, J.B., (2019). Glacial cycles drive rapid divergence of cryptic species of the field vole. Ecology and Evolution, 9(24), 14101–14113. [Wiley]
Gonzalez-Villalobos, R. A., Janjoulia, T., Fletcher, N. K., Giani, J. F., Nguyen, M. T., Riquier-Brison, A. D., Seth, D.M., Fuchs, S., Eldari, D., Picard, N., Bachmann, S., Delpire, E., Peti-Peterdi, J., Navar, L.G., Bernstein, K.E., & McDonough, A. A., 2013. The absence of intrarenal ACE protects against hypertension. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 123(5), 2011. [PubMed]
Nguyen, M. T., Yang, L. E., Fletcher, N. K., Lee, D. H., Kocinsky, H., Bachmann, S., Delpire, E., & McDonough, A. A., 2012. Effects of K+-deficient diets with and without NaCl supplementation on Na+, K+, and H2O transporters’ abundance along the nephron. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 303(1), F92-F104. [PubMed]
Fletcher, N. K., McDonough, A. A., Nguyen, M. T., Janjulia, T., Bernstein, K. E., & Gonzalez-Villalobos, R. A., 2012. Stimulation of renal sodium transporters’ abundance and phosphorylation during chronic angiotensin II (AII) infusion requires intrarenal AII formation. The FASEB Journal, 26, 1105-8. [FASEB]
Fletcher, N. K., 2009. Freshwater runoff effects on the diversity and colonization of coral rubble-inhabiting crustacean microcommunities. UC Berkeley: UCB Mo’orea Class: Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands. [PDF]