Jeremy A. Miller, Ph.D.

Research interests

My research is focused on the systematics, behavior, and biodiversity of spiders. Data from morphology, molecular sequences, and behavior all inform my research questions. My studies involve phylogenetics, descriptive taxonomy, evolution of mating behavior, online taxonomic tools, quantitative biodiversity, biogeography, and international field work.

Biodiversity of the Gaoligongshan. Since 1998, the California Academy of Sciences has lead an international interdisciplinary biotic inventory in the Gaoligongshan (or Gaoligong mountains) of western Yunnan, China. The Gaoligongshan is located in the heart of one of the world's biodiversity "hotspots". "Hotspots" are areas of extreme biodiversity and endemism under severe threat of habitat destruction. But the hotspot designation itself, while an extremely successful concept for the conservation community, has been criticized for over-reliance on data from vascular plants and tetrapod vertebrates. The hotspot designation criteria were originally selected in part because these taxa are relatively well known and well sampled worldwide, but it is not clear that they are representative of the biota as a whole because sampling and knowledge about the most diverse groups on Earth tends to be incomplete. Our inventory emphasized vascular plants and tetrapods (hotspot taxa) as well as fish, non-vascular plants (bryophytes), and two arthropod groups. From these data, we will be able to determine whether hotspot taxa are representative of a broader spectrum of the biota for conservation assessment and provide a model for assessing biodiversity of both well known and poorly known groups simultaneously.

Spiders of the Gaoligongshan and online taxonomy. I am describing the Gaoligong species of four closely related spider families: Theridiosomatidae, Mysmenidae, Anapidae, and Symphytognathidae (the symphytognathoid spiders). Over 1000 adult symphytognathoid specimens were collected during the 10 year inventory. These belong to 36 species, all new to science. A monograph describing these spiders is currently in progress. In addition to publication in a traditional journal, data will be made available through a variety of online sources. New species will be registered on ZooBank, images will be posted on Morphbank, species pages will be created for the Encyclopedia of Life, and a GoogleEarth layer will facilitate interactive exploration of collection locality.

Phylogeny of Spiders. I am using molecular sequence data to investigate questions about the phylogenetic affinities of several groups of spiders. The Penestominae was first described from females only and placed in the family Eresidae. Discovery of the male decades later brought surprises, especially in the anatomy of the male palp which features (among other things) a retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA). The presence of an RTA is synapomorphic for a large clade of spiders exclusive of Eresidae. A molecular data matrix based on four loci was constructed to test two alternative hypotheses: 1) penestomines are eresids and the RTA is convergent, or 2) penestomines belong within the RTA clade. A taxonomic revision of Penestomus is also in progress.

Social Spitting Spiders. On a recent expedition to Madagascar, I discovered social behavior in spitting spiders (family Scytodidae). These spiders were previously known to have some maternal care, but not to cooperate as adults. The evolution of maternal care precedes more advanced forms of sociality in several spider lineages, so this discovery is consistent with a larger evolutionary motif.

Synaphridae of Madagascar. I described three new species of the obscure spider family Synaphridae from Madagascar. This group of tiny spiders was previously known from the Mediterranean region and Central Asia.

Other interests include the phylogeny of widow spiders (genus Latrodectus), troglobitic spiders, and the spider fauna and island biogeography of Southeast Asia.

 

Teaching and mentoring

I co-teach a course on Biodiversity offered through Leiden University. This course involves many scientists specializing in a wide variety of taxonomic groups.

Opportunities are available for students with a range of backgrounds and goals. Students interested in spider systematics, molecular and morphological techniques, quantitative biodiverstiy, and speleobiology should contact me. I do not currently have funds to offer for such projects.

 

Appointments

Wetenschappelijk Onderzoeker for Arachnida
Department of Terrestrial Zoology
Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis
Leiden, The Netherlands

Research Associate
Department of Entomology
California Academy of Sciences 
San Francisco, USA

 

Postdoctoral fellowships

Postdoctoral Fellow, California Academy of Sciences, 2007. Advisor: Charles Griswold. Funded by "Biotic Survey of the Gaoligongshan, a Biodiversity Hotspot in Western Yunnan, China," National Science Foundation award BSI 0103795 (P.I.s N. Jablonski and P. Fritsch).

 California Academy of Sciences, Schlinger Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Systematic Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, 2005-2007. Advisor: Charles Griswold. Systematics of Widow Spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus): A Total Evidence Approach.

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 2004-2005. Advisors: Dr. Jonathan Coddington and Dr. Ted Schultz. Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Widow Spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus).

National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 2003-2004. Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Coddington. Funded by "Assembling the Tree of Life: Phylogeny of Spiders," National Science Foundation award DEB 0228699 (P.I.s W. Wheeler, L. Prendini, J. Coddington, G. Hormiga and P. Sierwald). This project will produce a data matrix including over 500 exemplar genera representing all 110 spider families plus outgroups scored for 1000 morphological characters and 50 loci. 

 

Education

The George Washington University (GWU), Department of Biological Sciences, Washington, D.C., 1996-2003, Ph.D. Co-advisors: Dr. Gustavo Hormiga, Dr. Jonathan Coddington. Dissertation: Progress in the systematics of erigonine spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae, Erigoninae).

Western Carolina University (WCU), Department of Biology in Cullowhee, North Carolina, 1994-1996, M.S. Advisor: Dr. Frederick A. Coyle. Thesis: Systematics of the erigonine spider genus Sisicottus (Araneae, Linyphiidae).

The Evergreen State College (TESC), Olympia, Washington, 1989-1994, B.A., B.S.

The Northwest School, Seattle, Washington, 1985-1989.

 

Editorial duties

 Zootaxa. Subject editor for amaurobioid spiders (Araneae: Amaurobioidea).

ZooKeys. Subject editor for spiders (Araneae).

Contributions to Zoology. Associate editor

  

Arachnida collection at naturalis

Loans and collection visits can be arranged through our collection department at collectie@naturalis.nl or myself at miller@naturalis.nl. Prospective visitors are advised to visit /collections/plan-your-visit. Our loan policy is available at /collections/loan-policy.