Matthew R. Graham

Biography

Dr. Graham is a biogeographer that shares his passion for biodiversity with his students during field courses and hands-on laboratory experiences. His research students use molecular genetics, morphology, and climate modelling to learn about the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity across landscapes, focusing on arachnids. Dr. Graham frequently collects arachnids throughout the American Southwest, including Mexico.

Research Interests

• Biogeography
• Desert Biology
• Arachnology

Of Note

Dr. Graham, in collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, received a four-year NSF grant to study the evolution and biogeography of desert camel spiders using genomics.

Teaching Interests

• Desert Biology
• Tropical Biology
• Invertebrate Biology

Publications

Graham, M.R., D.A. Wood., J. Henault, Z.J. Valois & P.E. Cushing. 2017. Ancient lakes, Pleistocene climates, and river avulsions structure the phylogeography of a large but little-known rock scorpion from the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 122(1):133¬–146.

Graham, M.R., B.E. Hendrixson, C.A. Hamilton & J.E. Bond. 2015. Miocene extensional tectonics explain ancient patterns of diversification among turret-building tarantulas (Aphonopelma mojave group) in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. Journal of Biogeography, 42(6):1052–1065.

Cushing, P. E., M.R. Graham, L. Prendini & J.O. Brookhart. 2015. A multilocus molecular phylogeny of the endemic North American camel spider family Eremobatidae (Arachnida: Solifugae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 92:280–293.

Graham, M.R., J.R. Jaeger, L. Prendini & B.R. Riddle. 2013. Phylogeography of Beck’s Desert Scorpion, Paruroctonus becki, reveals Pliocene diversification in the Eastern California Shear Zone and postglacial expansion in the Great Basin Desert. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 69:502–513.

Graham, M.R., J.R. Jaeger, L. Prendini & B.R. Riddle. 2013. Phylogeography of the Arizona hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) supports a model of biotic assembly in the Mojave Desert and adds a new Pleistocene refugium. Journal of Biogeography, 40:1298–1312.