Anne D. Yoder, Braxton Craven Distinguished Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Professor

My work integrates field inventory activities with molecular phylogenetic techniques and geospatial analysis to investigate Madagascar, an area of the world that is biologically complex, poorly understood, and urgently threatened. Madagascar has been designated as one of the most critical geographic priorities for conservation action, retaining less than 10% of the natural habitats that existed before human colonization. It is critical that information be obtained as quickly as possible to document the biota that occurs in the remaining and highly threatened forested areas of western Madagascar, to gain an understanding of the evolutionary processes and associated distributional patterns that have shaped this diversity, and to use this information to help set conservation priorities. Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of Malagasy vertebrates, each with unique life-history and dispersal characteristics, are conducted to identify areas of high endemism potentially associated with underlying geological features, and also to test for the role that geographic features have played in generating patterns of vertebrate diversity and distribution. My lab also has a significant focus on capacity-building through the education and training of both American and Malagasy students. Research opportunities for American graduate students are enhanced by the formation of Malagasy/American partnerships.

Contact Info:

Education:

Ph.D.

Duke University

1992

Specialties:

Evolution
Primate Behavior
Systematics
Cognition
Genomics
Organismal Biology and Behavior

Research Interests:

My primary research focus is the phylogenetics and evolution of Madagascar's lemurs. This has also inspired a broader interest in the biogeography of Madagascar, especially its modern terrestrial vertebrates. Given that Madagascar's natural habatitats are under extreme human pressures, I am also involved with conservation projects, especially those that involve training local Malagasy students and other scholars.

Keywords:

Biodiversity • biogeography, Madagascar; phylogenetics; conservation genetics • Biological Evolution • Cheirogaleidae • Conservation of Natural Resources • Demography • Endangered Species • Environment • Evolution, Molecular • Extinction, Biological • Gene Flow • Genetic Speciation • Genetic Variation • Genomics • Hibernation • Lemuridae • Lemurs • Madagascar • Mammals • Models, Genetic • Models, Theoretical • Molecular Sequence Data • Phylogeny • Phylogeography • Sequence Analysis, DNA • Speciation • Vomeronasal Organ

Current Ph.D. Students   (Former Students)

• Desiree Outten-Berrios  
• Hanna Kania  
• Frappier-Brinton  
• Elise Paeitta  
• Elissa Foss  
• Ryan Campbell  
• Erin McKenney  
• Sheena Faherty  
• Michael Nowak  
• Meredith Barrett  

Postdocs Mentored

• Carolina Segami (2022 - present)  
• Sam Hyde Roberts (2021 - present)  
• George Tiley (2021)  
• Jelmer Poelstra (2020)  
• Rachel Williams (2015 - 2018)  
• Rachel Williams (2018)  
• Marina Blanco (2018)  
• Peter Larsen (2018)  
• Christopher Blair (2015)  
• Jason Brown (2012)  
• Lauren Chan (2009 - 2012)  
• Jason Brown (2009/12-2013/10)  
• Lauren Chan (2012)  
• Brice Noonan (2010)  
• Brice Noonan (2007 - 2009)  
• David Weisrock (2007 - 2009)  
• David Weisrock (2009)  

Recent Publications   (More Publications)   (search)

1. Greene, LK; Andriatiavina, T; Foss, ED; Andriantsalohimisantatra, A; Rivoharison, TV; Rakotoarison, F; Randriamboavonjy, T; Yoder, AD; Ratsoavina, F; Blanco, MB, The gut microbiome of Madagascar's lemurs from forest fragments in the central highlands., Primates; journal of primatology, vol. 66 no. 3 (May, 2025), pp. 313-325 [doi]  [abs]
2. Kim, AY; Greene, LK; Yoder, AD; Blanco, MB, Seasonal Frugivory Modulates the Gut Microbiome of Captive Dwarf Lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius) During Fattening, International Journal of Primatology, vol. 46 no. 2 (April, 2025), pp. 311-315 [doi]
3. Wang, RJ; Peña-García, Y; Raveendran, M; Harris, RA; Nguyen, T-T; Gingras, M-C; Wu, Y; Perez, L; Yoder, AD; Simmons, JH; Rogers, J; Hahn, MW, Unprecedented female mutation bias in the aye-aye, a highly unusual lemur from Madagascar., PLoS biology, vol. 23 no. 2 (February, 2025), pp. e3003015 [doi]  [abs]
4. De-Kayne, R; Schley, R; Barth, JMI; Campillo, LC; Chaparro-Pedraza, C; Joshi, J; Salzburger, W; Van Bocxlaer, B; Cotoras, DD; Fruciano, C; Geneva, AJ; Gillespie, R; Heras, J; Koblmüller, S; Matthews, B; Onstein, RE; Seehausen, O; Singh, P; Svensson, EI; Salazar-Valenzuela, D; Vanhove, MPM; Wogan, GOU; Yamaguchi, R; Yoder, AD; Cerca, J, Why Do Some Lineages Radiate While Others Do Not? Perspectives for Future Research on Adaptive Radiations., Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, vol. 17 no. 2 (February, 2025), pp. a041448 [doi]  [abs]
5. van Elst, T; Sgarlata, GM; Schüßler, D; Tiley, GP; Poelstra, JW; Scheumann, M; Blanco, MB; Aleixo-Pais, IG; Rina Evasoa, M; Ganzhorn, JU; Goodman, SM; Hasiniaina, AF; Hending, D; Hohenlohe, PA; Ibouroi, MT; Iribar, A; Jan, F; Kappeler, PM; Le Pors, B; Manzi, S; Olivieri, G; Rakotonanahary, AN; Rakotondranary, SJ; Rakotondravony, R; Ralison, JM; Ranaivoarisoa, JF; Randrianambinina, B; Rasoloarison, RM; Rasoloharijaona, S; Rasolondraibe, E; Teixeira, H; Zaonarivelo, JR; Louis, EE; Yoder, AD; Chikhi, L; Radespiel, U; Salmona, J, Integrative taxonomy clarifies the evolution of a cryptic primate clade., Nature ecology & evolution, vol. 9 no. 1 (January, 2025), pp. 57-72 [doi]  [abs]