Erik Funk is one of two new graduate students joining the Taylor Lab this fall!
Erik Funk graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Erik's senior project used camera traps to study edge effects, connectivity, and the impact of urbanization on mammal populations. Erik then recieved his M.S. from San Diego State University in Evolutionary Biology with Dr. Kevin Burns. His master’s research was focused on a Neotropical family of birds called tanagers, and their close relatives. Using this system, Erik constructed conservation priorities that incorporate phylogenetic information by combining evolutionary distinctiveness with extinction probabilities. Erik examined the phylogenetic and geographic distribution of threatened and high conservation-priority species to study patterns in the generation and location of these species. Welcome Erik!