Professor
Education:
Ph.D. University of California (Los Angeles), 1996
Postdoctoral Experience:
San Francisco State University.
Research Interests:
Evolutionary Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Conservation Biology & Genetics
Research Program: Dr. Girman is currently the Director of Graduate Studies at SSU where he serves all 14 graduate programs on the SSU campus. However, he remains engaged in ongoing research efforts with graduate students and undergraduates associated with biogeography, conservation ecology, and behavioral ecology of both raptors and herpetofauna, including glass lizards (Anguinae), California Giant Salamander, Pacific newts (Taricha spp.), Red-legged frogs, and California Tiger salamanders. Dr. Girman received both his Bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California Los Angeles where he worked on conservation genetics of canid species such as Gray wolves, black-backed jackals, and Channel Island foxes, with a focus on the endangered African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus). His research interests have focused on conservation genetics and evolutionary ecology of a wide range of species, including African and Neotropical birds (Black-bellied Seedcracker, Little Greenbul, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wilson’s Warbler, Catharus thrushes, threatened populations of steelhead trout, and the biogeography of Malagasy ants (genus Mystrium).
Course Offerings:
BIOL 130 - Genetics and Cell Biology
BIOL 327 - Vertebrate Biology
BIOL 341 - Evolution
Other: Sexual Reproduction, History of Life
Lavin, B.R. and D. Girman. 2019. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dating in the Glass Lizards (Anguinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 133:128-140.
Bain, T.K, D.G. Cook, and D.J. Girman. 2017. Evaluating the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on movement through wildlife crossing tunnels during migration of the California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense). Herpetological Conservation and Biology.
Graham, N.R., Fisher, B.L., and D.J. Girman. 2016. Phylogeography in response to reproductive strategies and ecogeographic isolation in ant species on Madagascar: Genus Mystrium (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae). PLOS ONE In Press PONE-D-14-140074R2
Humple, D. L., Nevins, H. M., Phillips, E. M., Gibble, C., Henkel, L. A., Boylan, K., & D. J. Girman. 2011. Demographics of aechmophorus grebes killed in three mortality events in California. Marine Ornithology, 39(2), 235-242
Deiner. K., J.C. Garza, R. Coey, and D .J. Girman . 2007. Population structure and genetic diversity of trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) above and below natural and manmade-barriers in the Russian River , California . Conservation Genetics 8:437-454.
Hull , J. and D.J. Girman . 2005. Population structure and historical demography in migrating Sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter velox): Effects of Holocene climatic variability. Molecular Ecology, 14:159-170.
Outlaw, D.C., G. Voelker, B. Mila, and D.J. Girman. 2003. The evolution of long-distance migration and historical biogeography of the Catharus thrushes: a molecular phylogenetic approach. The Auk 120: 299-310.
Girman, D. J., C. Vilà, E. Geffen, S. Creel, M. G. L. Mills, J. W. McNutt, J. Ginsberg, P. Kat, K. H. Mamiya, and R. K. 2001. Wayne. Patterns of population subdivision, gene flow and genetic variability in the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Molecular Ecology.10:1703-1723.
Smith, TB, RK Wayne, DJ Girman, and MW Bruford. 1997. A role for ecotones in generating rainforest biodiversity. Science 276: 1855-1857.
Girman, DJ, PW Kat, MGL Mills, JR Ginsberg, M Borner, V Wilson, JH Fanshawe, C Fitzgibbon, LM Lau, and RK Wayne. 1993. Molecular genetic and morphologic analysis of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Journal of Heredity, 84:450-459.