Stepfanie Aguillon

About

Our lab studies how and why new species form in nature (“the speciation process”). We focus on the evolution of divergence and reproductive isolation at multiple biological levels. To do this, we use an interdisciplinary approach that leverages genomic sequencing techniques and integrates field collections, museum specimens, and laboratory experiments in hybridizing species of birds and fish.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Zoology
• Biology
• Genetics
• Pedagogy
• Demographic economics
• Mathematics education
• Medicine
• Evolutionary biology
• Psychology

Selected publications

• Swordtail fish hybrids reveal that genome evolution is surprisingly predictable after initial hybridization

  PLoS Biology · 2024-08-26 · 20 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Over the past 2 decades, biologists have come to appreciate that hybridization, or genetic exchange between distinct lineages, is remarkably common-not just in particular lineages but in taxonomic groups across the tree of life. As a result, the genomes of many modern species harbor regions inherited from related species. This observation has raised fundamental questions about the degree to which the genomic outcomes of hybridization are repeatable and the degree to which natural selection drive…

  PublisherDOI

• Pervasive gene flow despite strong and varied reproductive barriers in swordtails

  Nature Ecology & Evolution · 2025-03-26 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract The evolution of reproductive barriers leads to the formation of new species. However, recent research has demonstrated that hybridization has been pervasive across the tree of life even in the presence of strong barriers. Using swordtail fishes (genus Xiphophorus ), an emerging model system, we document overlapping mechanisms that act as barriers to gene flow between Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus cortezi by combining genomic sequencing from natural hybrid populations, experime…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Genome evolution is surprisingly predictable after initial hybridization

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2023-12-23 · 10 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Over the past two decades, evolutionary biologists have come to appreciate that hybridization, or genetic exchange between distinct lineages, is remarkably common – not just in particular lineages but in taxonomic groups across the tree of life. As a result, the genomes of many modern species harbor regions inherited from related species. This observation has raised fundamental questions about the degree to which the genomic outcomes of hybridization are repeatable and the degree to whi…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pervasive gene flow despite strong and varied reproductive barriers in swordtails

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2024-04-20 · 6 citations

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract One of the mechanisms that can lead to the formation of new species occurs through the evolution of reproductive barriers. However, recent research has demonstrated that hybridization has been pervasive across the tree of life even in the presence of strong barriers. Swordtail fishes (genus Xiphophorus ) are an emerging model system for studying the interface between these barriers and hybridization. We document overlapping mechanisms that act as barriers between closely related species…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• On the brink of explosion? Identifying the source and potential spread of introduced Zosterops white-eyes in North America

  Biological Invasions · 2024-03-02 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Molly Schumer

  Stanford University

  37 shared

• Daniel L. Powell

  Stanford University

  31 shared

• Quinn K. Langdon

  Gladstone Institutes

  24 shared

• Manfred Schartl

  Texas State University

  17 shared

• Alexandra Donny

  Centro de Investigaciones Cientifícas de las Huastecas 'Aguazarca'

  16 shared

• Tristram O. Dodge

  Centro de Investigaciones Cientifícas de las Huastecas 'Aguazarca'

  16 shared

• Theresa R. Gunn

  Stanford University

  16 shared

• Shreya M. Banerjee

  Stanford University

  14 shared

Labs

• Aguillon LabPI

Education

• PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

  Cornell University

  2021

• Master of Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

  University of Arizona

  2014

• Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

  University of Arizona

  2013

Similar researchers at University of California, Los Angeles

• Lawren Sackh-95
• H. Bradley Shafferh-80
• Glen MacDonaldh-79