N.B. These pages
are considerably out of date and mainly focus on my empirical research. Check
out my recent publications and presentations
for a more up-to-date list of my research interests. Vince Smith, May
'04.
Lice (Phthiraptera) comprise some
4,900 valid species. These are permanent obligate ectoparasites present on
a diverse selection of birds and mammals with a worldwide distribution. Historically,
lice have played a prominent role in our understanding of the patterns and
processes of evolution, and lice continue to play a key role into research
on the evolution of historical associations.
Much of my research focuses on
investigating the phylogeny of lice and their hosts. These data are then used
to address a range of questions in the fields of evolutionary biology and
ecology that are of broader interest to biologists.