Gary Voelker

Dr. Gary Voelker is an ornithologist/evolutionary biologist, whose lab focuses primarily on developing molecular phylogenies of avian lineages (and now a few mammals), and using these phylogenies to address questions posed by relationships within those lineages. In addition to resolving species relationships and revising taxonomy, work in Dr. Voelker’s lab has dealt with reconstructing historical biogeography and examining the relative roles that dispersal and vicariance (e.g., mountain uplift) may have played in the development of modern day species distributions and assemblages

As Curator of Birds at the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Dr. Voelker and his students work to expand collections through biodiversity surveys/expeditions both within Texas and internationally. The collections also support graduate student research and undergraduate internships.

Research Interests and Specializations

Systematics and biogeography of birds 

The Voelker Lab

The primary long-term focus of work in the Voelker Lab is on the systematics and biogeography of birds. More recently my students and I have developed an interest in looking at the ecto- and endoparasites of birds to include avian malaria and lice.

Recent Publications

Ham-Dueñas, J.G., R. Canales del Castillo, G. Voelker, I. Ruvalcaba-Ortega, C. Aguirre-Calderón, and J.I. Gonzalez-Rojas. 2020.  Adaptive genetic diversity and evidence of population genetic structure in the endangered Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi).  PLoS One 15:e0232282. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232282.

Wogan, G., Voelker, G. Oatley and R.C.K. Bowie. 2020.  Biome stability predicts population structure of a southern African aridland bird species.  Ecology and Evolution 10:4066-4081.

Hibbitts, T.J., W.A. Ryberg, J.A. Harvey*, G. Voelker, A.M. Lawing, C.S. Adams, D.B. Neuharth, D.E. Dittmer, C.M. Duran, B.D. Wolaver, J.P. Pierre, B.J. Labay and T.J. Laduc. 2019.  Phylogenetic structure of Holbrookia lacerata(Cope 1880)(Squamata: Phrynosomatidae): one species or two?  Zootaxa 4619:139-154.

Colón, M.R., M.R. Hutchinson, A.M. Long, G. Voelker, and M.L. Morrison. 2019.  Post-breeding habitat use by Golden-cheeked Warblers (Setophaga chrysoparia).  Western North American Naturalist 79:337-346.

Castellanos, A.A., J.W. Huntley*, G. Voelker and A.M. Lawing. 2019.  Environmental filtering improves ecological niche models across multiple scales.  Methods in Ecology and Evolution 10:481-492.