Patrick Stephens
E-mail: 
Phone: 631-632-1886
Patrick is a Ph.D. candidate working on the phylogenetics and evolutionary ecology of emydid turtles. He is reconstructing a phylogeny for the group using molecular and morphological data and then using this phylogeny to examine patterns of species richness, community structure, and the evolution of ecological specialization in locomotor performance.
Before coming to Stony Brook in January of 2003, Patrick was a Ph.D. student with Wiens at the University of Pittsburgh.
Major Awards
Stanton C. Crawford Award (2002) for outstanding teaching by a graduate student
Stoye Award (2001), best student paper in general herpetology, American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists
Siebert Award (2000), best student paper in ecology and evolution,Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Publications
Stephens, P. R., and J. J. Wiens. Convergence and divergence
in the ecological structure of emydid turtle communities: the effects
of phylogeny and dispersal. American Naturalist (accepted pending
revison).
Stephens, P. R., and J. J. Wiens. 2003. Ecological diversification and phylogeny in emydid turtles. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 79:577–610. PDF.
Stephens, P. R., and J. J. Wiens. 2003. Explaining species richness from continents to communities: the time for speciation effect in emydid turtles. American Naturalist 161: 112–128. PDF.
