Frank E. Rheindt                           
DAAD Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD University of Melbourne (Australia)

MCZ Room 500C
Tel: 617-496-8387
Fax: 617-495-5667

Research Interests:

My research presently focuses on avian phylogenetics, speciation, and evolutionary history. Previously I have also been involved in comparative studies on character evolution, and even though birds are my favorite model group, past research involvement has included rewarding digressions into studies on caste determination in ants.

I am currently involved in a number of different areas of research that are loosely associated with one another: (1) My postdoc project in the Edwards Lab is geared towards exploring the little known phenomenon of genetic introgression. Using a model system of two introgressing passerine species, I am presently trying to look at genetic introgression from a multi-locus perspective. (2) I am also interested in applying the multi-locus approach to a number of avian genus phylogenies. The past two decades have bestowed upon us a multitude of mitochondrial or nuclear single-gene phylogenies of all kinds of organisms. It will now be exciting to find out whether these hypotheses stand up to multi-locus scrutiny, and to apply coalescent methods to urgent questions about the mechanisms and timing of speciation. (3) Genomic studies and next-generation sequencing tools have begun to accumulate mountains of unused data. One of my greatest interests is the current effort of finding ways to harness these data for studies on avian evolution.

Besides these focal study areas, I continue to place a lot of importance on a strong field component in my research. I have been involved in bird surveys in remote and unexplored areas of all four tropical landmasses that have revealed important new avifaunal discoveries. As reflected in my publications, the most recent expeditions to the Papuan and Wallacean region have led to the discovery (but not yet the description) of a number of bird taxa new to science. Currently, one of my favorite pastimes in between breaks from labwork is the vocal analysis of cryptic tropical bird species complexes. The publication of some of this work (especially on Indonesian birds) has led to the elevation to species level of a number of hitherto unrecognized bird species, which has important conservation implications.

I am supported by a fellowship from the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst)

Publications in scientific journals (listed in Web of Science):

Rheindt, F.E., Álvarez Alonso, J., Norman, J.A., Christidis, L. (2009): A molecular and vocal case for sympatric sibling species in the fuscous flycatcher Cnemotriccus fuscatus. Journal of Avian Biology, submitted 15 September 2009.

Rheindt, F.E. (2009): New biogeographic records for the avifauna of Taliabu (Sula Islands, Indonesia), with the preliminary documentation of two previously undiscovered taxa. Bulletin Brit. Orn. Cl., in press.

Rheindt, F.E., Eaton, J.A. (2009): Species limits in Pteruthius shrike-babblers: a comparison between the Biological and Phylogenetic Species Concept. Zootaxa, in submission.

Rheindt, F.E., Christidis, L., Cabanne, G.S., Miyaki, C., Norman, J.A. (2009): The timing of Neotropical speciation dynamics in the late Neogene: a reconstruction of Myiopagis flycatcher diversification using phylogenetic and paleogeographic data. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol., in press.

Rheindt, F.E., Christidis, L, Norman, J.A. (2009): Genetic introgression, incomplete lineage sorting and faulty taxonomy create multiple polyphyly in a montane clade of Elaenia flycatchers. Zoologica Scripta 38(2): 143-153.

Rheindt, F.E., Christidis, L., Norman, J.A. (2008): Habitat shifts in the evolutionary history of a Neotropical flycatcher lineage from forest and open landscapes. BMC – Evolutionary Biology 8: 193.

Rheindt, F.E., Norman, J.A., Christidis, L. (2008): DNA evidence shows vocalizations to be a better indicator of taxonomic limits than plumage patterns in Zimmerius tyrant-flycatchers. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 48: 150-156.

Rheindt, F.E., Norman, J.A., Christidis, L. (2008): Genetic differentiation across the Andes in two pan-Neotropical tyrant-flycatcher species. Emu 108: 261-268.

Rheindt, F.E., Norman, J.A., Christidis, L. (2008): Phylogenetic relationships of tyrant-flycatchers (Aves; Tyrannidae), with an emphasis on the elaeniine assemblage. Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 46(1): 88-101.

Norman, J.A., Rheindt, F.E., Rowe, D.L., Christidis, L. (2007): Speciation dynamics in the Australo-Papuan Meliphaga honeyeaters. Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 42: 80-91.

Rheindt, F.E., Strehl, C.-P., Gadau, J. (2005): A genetic component in the determination of worker polymorphism in the Florida harvester ant Pogonomyrmex badius. Insectes Sociaux 52 (2): 163-168.

Rheindt, F.E., Austin, J.J. (2005): Major analytical and conceptual short-comings in a recent taxonomic revision of the Procellariiformes – a reply to Penhallurick and Wink (2004). Emu 105: 181-186.

Federle, W., Rheindt, F.E. (2005): Macaranga ant-plants hide food from intruders: correlation of food presentation and presence of wax barriers analysed using phylogenetically independent contrasts. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 84: 177-193.

Rheindt, F.E., Gadau, J., Strehl, C.-P., Hölldobler, B. (2004): Extremely high mating frequency in the Florida harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 56 (5): 472-481.

Rheindt, F.E., Grafe, T.U., Abouheif, E. (2004): Rapidly evolving traits and the comparative method: how important is testing for phylogenetic independence? Evolutionary Ecology Research 6 (3): 377-396.

Rheindt, F.E. (2003): The impact of roads on birds: Does song frequency play a role in determining susceptibility to noise pollution? J. Ornith. 144: 295-306.

Publications in other peer-reviewed scientific journals (not listed in the Web of Science):

Rheindt, F.E., Eaton, J.A. (2009): Biological species limits in the Banded Pitta Pitta guajana. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology, in submission.

Rheindt, F.E., Verbelen, F. (2009): First nest description of the Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rhodogaster with notes on its vocalizations and taxonomy. Kukila, in submission.

Rheindt, F.E., Verbelen, F. (2009): A taxonomic reappraisal of the Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus subgularis complex based on morphology and vocalizations. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology, in submission.

Bezuijen, M.R., Eaton, J.A., Gidean, Hutchinson, R.O., Rheindt, F.E. (2009): Recent and historical bird records for Kalaw, eastern Myanmar (Burma) between 1895 and 2008. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology, in submission.

Rheindt, F.E., Verbelen, F. (2009): First record of Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana in the Wallacean Region. Kukila, in submission.

Rheindt, F.E. (2009): The first nest and egg description of the New Guinea Bronzewing Henicophaps albifrons. Kukila, in press.

Eaton, J.A., Rheindt, F.E. (2009): Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus nesting in its Himalayan wintering range: first breeding record for the Indian Subcontinent. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology 25: 153-154.

Hutchinson, R.O., Rheindt, F.E. (2009): First nest and egg description of the Long-tailed Mountain-Pigeon Gymnophaps mada. Kukila 14: 49-51.

Rheindt, F.E., Quispe Vela, H. (2008): Descripción del nido y de los polluelos del Solitario Orejiblanco Entomodestes leucotis. Cotinga 30: 70-71.

Rheindt, F.E. (2008): Descripción preliminar del nido de Pachyramphus spodiurus, especie amenazada. Cotinga 29: 162-163.

Rheindt, F.E., Hutchinson, R.O. (2007): A photoshot odyssey through the confused avian taxonomy of Seram and Buru (southern Moluccas). Birding Asia 7: 18-38.

Rheindt, F.E., Hutchinson, R.O. (2007): New island records and new elevational records of birds from the Southern Moluccas. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology 23: 158-161.

Hutchinson, R., Eaton, J., Demeulemeester, B., Rheindt, F.E. (2007): Observations of Flores Scops Owl Otus alfredi on Flores, Indonesia, with a first description of its vocalisations. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology 23: 184-187.

Rheindt, F.E. (2006): Splits galore: the revolution in Asian leaf warbler systematics. Birding Asia 5: 25-39.

Rheindt, F.E. (2004): Review – Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 8, Broadbills to Tapaculos. Australian Field Ornithology 21 (3): 127-130.

Rheindt, F.E. (2004): New Species in Cambodia: Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus roseus in Chhep; and Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti at Bokor. Cambodia Bird News 12: 45-46.

Rheindt, F.E. (2004): Notes on the range and ecology of Sichuan Treecreeper Certhia tianquanensis. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology 20: 141-142.

Rheindt, F.E. (2004): An incident of elevational displacement of birds at Bukit Fraser, Peninsular Malaysia. Forktail – Journal of Asian Ornithology 20: 130-131.

Rheindt, F.E., Grafe, T.U., Linsemair, K.E. (2001): New bird records for Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast. Malimbus 24 (1): 38-40.