K. P. Johnson

Origin and diversification of a globally distributed group of parasitic feather lice

This study reconstructs the macroevolutionary history of dove body lice using whole genome data, revealing their origin in Australasia and host-driven dispersal patterns similar to wing lice.

Phylogenomics and biogeography of the feather lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) of parrots

This study uses whole-genome sequencing to analyze the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of parrot feather lice, revealing two clades and monophyletic genera with strong biogeographic patterns.

Nano-computed tomography reveals repeated phenotypic divergence in parasites to escape host defense

The paper uses nano-computed tomography to analyze morphological traits of feather lice across different host habitats, finding strong associations between morphology and host-specific adaptations.

Host body size, not host population size, predicts genome-wide effective population size of parasites

This study finds that host body size, not host population size, predicts the effective population size of parasites using whole-genome sequence data and phylogenetic methods.

Long-distance dispersal of pigeons and doves generated new ecological opportunities for host-switching and adaptive radiation by their parasites

This study shows that long-distance dispersal of pigeons and doves created new ecological opportunities for their parasites to speciate through host-switching, but this opportunity decreased over time as cospeciation became more common.

The interplay between host biogeography and phylogeny in structuring diversification of the feather louse genus Penenirmus

This study examines how host biogeography and phylogeny influence the diversification of feather lice in the genus Penenirmus, finding that host-switching is common but often confined to biogeographic regions.

Patterns of microbiome variation among infrapopulations of permanent bloodsucking parasites

The paper examines microbiome variation among infrapopulations of bloodsucking parasites and finds that parasite infrapopulation identity significantly explains microbiome composition patterns.

Mitochondrial genomes of Columbicola feather lice are highly fragmented, indicating repeated evolution of minicircle-type genomes in parasitic lice

The paper analyzes mitochondrial genomes of Columbicola feather lice and finds they are highly fragmented into minicircles, suggesting multiple independent origins of this genomic structure in parasitic lice.

Experimental evolution of reproductive isolation from a single natural population

This study shows that experimental evolution of parasite body size over four years leads to reproductive isolation in feather lice by causing size differences that trigger mechanical mating isolation and affect competition.

Host defense triggers rapid adaptive radiation in experimentally evolving parasites

This study shows that host defense drives rapid adaptive divergence in experimentally evolving feather lice, leading to heritable color differences across generations.

Protein-coding variation and introgression of regulatory alleles drive plumage pattern diversity in the rock pigeon

The paper identifies NDP as a gene driving plumage pattern diversity in rock pigeons through regulatory and coding variation, showing introgression from speckled pigeons and links to vision defects.