Dr. Julián Torres-Dowdall

​Department of Biology
Building M, Room M816
University of Konstanz
Universitätsstr. 10
78457 Konstanz
Tel: +49 (0) 7531 884066

E-mail: julian.torres-dowdall@uni-konstanz.de

​I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in the study of adaptation in natural populations. My aim is to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms that produce phenotypic variation and elucidate the role of natural selection in sorting and maintaining this variation. To address these questions, I take a multidisciplinary perspective, linking concepts from ecology, animal behaviour, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology. Thus, my research is broad in perspective and methodology, using a combination of field and laboratory approaches. My work has mostly focused on freshwater fishes, but I have also done research on other vertebrates.

EDUCATION
2005-2012         Ph.D. in Zoology. Department of Biology. Colorado State University, USA
                            Dissertation title: Intra- and Interspecific variation along environmental gradients: Adaptation, plasticity, and range limits.
                            Advisor: Dr. Cameron K. Ghalambor.
2002-2005         Master in Wildlife Management. Centro de Zoología Aplicada. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
                            Dissertation title: Using stable isotopes to link seasonal habitat of neartic shorebirds..
                            Advisor: Dr. Adrian H. Farmer and Dr. Enrique H. Bucher.
1996-2002         B.A. in Zoology. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina.

APPOINTMENTS
2015 – 2022      Project Leader Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Host: Prof. Dr. Axel Meyer. Laboratory for Zoology and         
                             Evolutionary Biology. Department of Biology. University of Konstanz. Germany.
2013 – 2015      Marie Curie-Zukunftskolleg Incoming Fellowship. University of Konstanz, Germany
2012 – 2013      Post-Doctoral Researcher. University of Konstanz, Germany
2007 – 2012      Graduate Research Teaching Assistant. Colorado State University, USA
2007 – 2011      Graduate Student Teaching Assistant. Colorado State University, USA
2005 – 2007      Fulbright OAS Fellowship in Ecology. Colorado State University, USA
2002 – 2005      University of Córdoba / US Fish and Wildlife Service Fellowship in Wildlife Management. University of Córdoba, Argentina

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2020 – 2023  German Research Foundation (DFG)  “Applying integrative multispecies coalescent models to tackle the long-standing                                       problem of species delimitation in allopatrically distributed populations” (Co-PI) with Prof. Axel Meyer
2019 – 2022  German Research Foundation (DFG)  “Ontogeny and evolution: parallel cooption of developmental pathways in the adaptive
                         evolution of the visual system of Neotropical cichlid fish in recently colonized crater lakes” 
2018                Zufunftkolleg Mentorship Program "The role of phenotypic plasticity in the evolution of the visual system" With Prof. Dr.
                         Cameron Ghalambor, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA. 
2018                Young Scholar Fund "The Why and How of the complex retina of the Amazonian dwarf cichlid fish Dicrossus filamentosus" 
2018                Zukunftskolleg Transdepartmental teaching programme "Quantitative methods in marine behavioural ecology"  With Dr. Alex
                         Jordan and Dr. Ari Strandburg-Peshkin.
2017                Zukunftskolleg Investment Program “Evolution of color vision in cichlid fishes: the role of opsin expression in adaptation to                             divergent light environments”
2016                Young Scholar Fund "Molecular evolution of color vision in Neotropical cichlid fishes"
2015 – 2018  German Research Foundation (DFG) “Does side matter? The evolution of asymmetric genitalia in livebearing fish”
2014 – 2015  Zufunftkolleg Co-Funding Grant. University of Konstanz. “Effects of early life stress in patterns of gene expression in a 
                         livebearing fish” 
2010 – 2011  National Science Foundation (NSF), DEB- Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, “Ecological aspects of
                         species distribution limits: interaction of biotic and abiotic factors” With Prof. Dr. Cameron Ghalambor, Colorado State
                         University, Colorado, USA. 
2009                U.S. Fulbright Commission, "Creating Regional Partnerships in the America’s" Grant
2005                U.S. Fulbright Commission, US$ 80,000.

​
PUBLICATIONS
(* equally contributing authors)

[44] Torres‐Dowdall J., Karagic N., Härer A., Meyer A. (2021) Diversity in visual sensitivity across Neotropical cichlid fishes via differential            expression and intraretinal variation of opsin genes. Molecular Ecology. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi.org/10.1111/mec.15855
[43] Potter T., Bassar R.D, Bentzen P., Ruell E.W., Torres-Dowdall J., Handelsman C.A., Ghalambor C.K, Travis J., Reznick D.N., Coulson T.             (2021) Environmental change, if unaccounted, prevents detection of cryptic evolution in a wild population. The American Naturalist               197: 29-46 
[42] Kautt A., Kratochwil C.F., Nater A., Machado-Schiaffino G., Olave M., Henning F., Torres-Dowdall J., Härer A., Hulsey C.D., Franchini P.,            Pippel M., Myers E.W., Meyer A. (2020) Contrasting signatures of genomic divergence during sympatric speciation. Nature                              https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2845-0
[41] Härer A., Torres-Dowdall J., Rometsch S.J., Yohannes E., Machado-Schiaffino G., Meyer A. (2020) Parallel and non-parallel changes              of the gut microbiota during trophic diversification in repeated young adaptive radiations of sympatric cichlid fish. Microbiome  8: 149
[40] Torres-Dowdall J., Rometsch S.J., Kautt A.F., Aguilera G., and Meyer A. (2020) The direction of genital asymmetry is expressed                      stochastically in internally fertilizing anablepid fishes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 287: 20200969                                                            http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.0969
[39] Rometsch S.J., Torres-Dowdall J., and Meyer A. (2020) Evolutionary dynamics of pre- and postzygotic reproductive isolation in 
        cichlid fishes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 375: 20190535 http://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0535
[38] Schneider R.F.*, Rometsch S.J.*, Torres-Dowdall J., Meyer A. (2020) Habitat light sets the boundaries for the rapid evolution of
        cichlid fish vision, while sexual selection can tune it within those limits. Molecular Ecology 29: 1476-1493.                                                            doi.org/10.1111/mec.15416
[37] Torres-Dowdall J., Rometsch S.J., Aguilera G., Goyenola G., Meyer A. (2020) Asymmetry in genitalia is in sync with lateralized mating          behavior but not with the lateralization of other behaviors. Current Zoology. 66: 71-81
[36] Reznick D.N., Bassar R.D, Handelsman C.A., Ghalambor C.K, Arendt J., Coulson T., Potter T., Ruell E.W., Torres-Dowdall J., Bentzen P.,            Travis J. (2019) Eco-evolutionary feedbacks predict the time course of rapid life history evolution. The American Naturalist 194: 671-            692.
[35] Härer A., Karagic N., Meyer A., Torres-Dowdall J. (2019) Reverting ontogeny: rapid adaptive plasticity of color vision in cichlid fish.                Royal Society Open Science 6: 190841. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190841
[34] Kratochwil C.F., Liang Y., Urban S., Torres-Dowdall J., Meyer A. (2019)  Evolutionary dynamics of structural variation at a key locus for          color pattern diversification in cichlid fishes. Genome Biology and Evolution. 11: 2452-3465. 
[33] Aguilera G., Terán G., Mirande J.M., Alonso F., Rometsch S., Meyer A., Torres-Dowdall J. (2019) Molecular and morphological                         convergence to sulfide-tolerant fishes in a new species of Jenynsia (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae), the first extremophile member         of the family. PLoS one https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218810
[32] Irisarri I., Singh P., Koblmüller S., Torres-Dowdall J., Franchini P, Henning F., Fischer C., Lemmon A.R., Lemmon E.M., Thallinger G.G.,              Sturmbauer C., Meyer A. (2018) Phylogenomics uncovers early hybridization and adaptive loci shaping the radiation of Lake                          Tanganyika cichlid fishes. Nature Communications. 9(1), 3159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05479-9
[31] Härer A. §, Meyer A., Torres-Dowdall J. (2018) Convergent phenotypic evolution of the visual system via different molecular routes:              How Neotropical cichlid fishes adapt to novel light environments. Evolution Letters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/evl3.71
[30] Karagic N. §, Härer A. §, Meyer A., Torres-Dowdall J. (2018) Heterochronic opsin expression due to early light deprivation results in              drastically shifted visual sensitivity in a cichlid fish: Possible role of thyroid hormone signaling. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part            B. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.22806
[29] Torres-Dowdall J., Karagic N., Plath M., Riesch R. (2018). Evolution in caves: Selection from darkness causes spinal deformities in                teleost fishes. Biology Letters. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0197
[28] Härer A.*, Torres-Dowdall J.*, Meyer A. (2017). Rapid adaptation to a novel light environment: The importance of ontogeny and                    phenotypic plasticity in shaping the visual system of Nicaraguan Midas cichlid fish (Amphilophus citrinellus spp.). Molecular Ecology.          10.1111/mec.14289
[27] Torres-Dowdall, J., Pierotti, E.J., Härer, A., Karagic, N., Wootering, J.M., Henning, F., Elmer, K.R., and A. Meyer. (2017). Rapid and                      parallel adaptive evolution of the visual system of Neotropical Midas cichlid fishes. Molecular Biology and Evolution 34:2469–2485.              doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msx143.
[26] Torres-Dowdall, J.*, Golcher-Benavides, J.*, Machado-Schiaffino, G., and A. Meyer. (2017). The role of rare morph advantage and                  conspicuousness in the stable gold-dark colour polymorphism of a crater lake Midas cichlid fish. Journal of Animal Ecology 86:1044-           1053. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12693
[25] Fitzpatrick S.W., Handelsman C.A., Torres‐Dowdall J., Ruell E.W., Broder D., Kronenberger J.A., Reznick D.N., Ghalambor C.K., Angeloni          L.M., Funk C.W. (2017). Gene Flow Constrains and Facilitates Genetically Based Divergence in Quantitative Traits. Copeia 105:462-                474.    
[24] Härer A., Torres-Dowdall J., Meyer A. (2017) The imperiled fish fauna in the Nicaragua Canal zone. Conservation Biology 31: 86-95.              doi: 10.1111/cobi.12768
[23] Machado-Schiaffino, G., Kautt, A.F.*, Torres-Dowdall, J.*, Baumgarten, L., Henning, F. and A. Meyer. (2017). Incipient speciation driven          by hypertrophied lips in Midas cichlids fish? Molecular Ecology 26: 2348-2362.
[22] Kautt A., Machado-Schiaffino G., Torres-Dowdall J., Meyer A. (2016) Incipient sympatric speciation in Midas cichlid fish from the                  youngest and one of the smallest crater lakes in Nicaragua due to differential use of the benthic and limnetic habitats? Ecology and             Evolution 6:5342-5357. doi: 10.1002/ece3.2287 
[21] Fitzpatrick S.W., Gerberich J.C., Angeloni L.M., Bailey L.L., Broder E.D., Torres‐Dowdall J., Handelsman C.A., López‐Sepulcre A.,                        Reznick D.N., Ghalambor C.K. and Funk C.W. (2016). Gene flow from an adaptively divergent source causes rescue through genetic              and demographic factors in two wild populations of Trinidadian guppies. Evolutionary Applications 9:879-891. doi: 10.1111/eva.12356
[20] Verheyen E, [and 69 others, including Torres-Dowdall J.] (2016). Oil extraction imperils Africa’s Great Lakes. Science 354: 561-562.
[19] Torres-Dowdall J., Henning F., Elmer K.R., Meyer A. (2015) Ecological and lineage specific factors drive the molecular evolution of                rhodopsin in cichlid fishes. Molecular Biology and Evolution 32: 2876-2882. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msv159 .
[18] Handelsman C.A., Ruell E.W., Torres-Dowdall J., Ghalambor C.K. (2014) Phenotypic plasticity changes correlations of traits following          experimental introductions of Trinidadian Guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Integrative and Comparative Biology, doi:10.1093/icb/icu112 .
[17] Torres-Dowdall J., Machado-Schiaffino G., Kautt A.F., Kusche H., Meyer A. (2014) Differential predation on colour morphs of                          Nicaraguan Crater lake Midas cichlid fish: implications for the maintenance of gold-normal polymorphism. Biological Journal of the              Linnean Society 112:123-131.
[16] Fitzpatrick S.W., Torres-Dowdall J., Reznick D.N., Ghalambor C.K., Funk C. (2014) Parallelism Isn’t Perfect: Could Disease and                        Flooding Drive a Life-History Anomaly in Trinidadian Guppies? The American Naturalist 183: 290-300.
[15] Torres-Dowdall J., Dargent F., Handelsman C.A., Ramnarine I.W., Ghalambor C.K. (2013) Ecological correlates of the distribution                    limits of two poeciliid species across a salinity gradient. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108: 790-805.
[14] Dargent F., Torres-Dowdall J.,Scott M.E., Ramnarine I.W., Fussmann G.F. (2013) Can mixed-species groups reduce individual parasite          load? A field test with two closely related Poeciliid fishes (Poecilia reticulata and Poecilia picta). PLoS one 8(2):e56789.
[13] Torres-Dowdall J., Handelsman C.A., Reznick D.N., Ghalambor C.K. (2012) Local adaptation and the evolution of phenotypic plasticity          in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Evolution 66:3432-3443.
[12] Torres-Dowdall J., Handelsman C.A., Ruell E., Auer S.K., Reznick D.N., Ghalambor C.K. (2012) Fine scale local adaptation in life                      histories along a continuous environmental gradient in Trinidadian guppies. Functional Ecology 26:616-627.
[11] Echevarria A.L., Lobo Allende I.R., Juri M.D., Chani J.M., Torres-Dowdall J., Martín E. (2011) Composición, estructura y variación                    estacional de la comunidad de aves del Jardín Botánico de la Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina. Acta Zoologica Lilloana                55:123-136.
[10] Torres-Dowdall J., Farmer A.H., Abril M., Bucher E.H., Ridley I. (2010) Trace elements have limited utility for studying migratory                      connectivity in shorebirds that winter in Argentina. Condor 112:490-498.
[9]    Torres-Dowdall J., Farmer A.H., Bucher E.H., Rye R.O., & Landis G. (2009) Population variation in the isotopic composition of                          shorebirds feathers: implications for determine molting grounds. Waterbirds 32:300-310.
[8]    Farmer A.H., Cade B.S, & Torres-Dowdall J. (2008) Fundamental limits to the accuracy of deuterium basemaps for identifying the                spatial origin of birds. Oecologia 158:183-192.
[7]    Strum K.M., Alfaro M., Haase B, Hooper M.J., Johnson K.A., Lanctot R.B., Lesterhuis A.J., López L., Matz A.C., Morales C., Paulson B,            Sandercock B.K., Torres-Dowdall J., & Zaccagnini M.E. (2008) Plasma cholinesterase for monitoring pesticide exposure in                              neotropical migratory shorebirds. Ornitologia Neotropical 19:641-651.
[6]    Echevarria A, Chani J, Lobo I, Juri MD, Torres-Dowdall J, Martin E, Tribulo E. (2007). Aves del Jardín Botánico de la Fundación Miguel          Lillo. Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina.
[5]    Torres-Dowdall J, Osorio F. & Suárez G.M. (2007). Materiales utilizados por el Picaflor Rubí (Sephanoides sephaniodes) para la                      construcción de nidos en la Selva Valdiviana, Chile. Ornitologia Neotropical 18:433-437.
[4]    Osinaga Acosta O, Torres-Dowdall J, Martin E, Lazcano E & Bucher E. (2007). Aves Playeras (Shorebirds). In Bañados del Río Dulce              y Laguna Mar Chiquita. (E Bucher eds). Chapter 16: 263-275. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
[3]    Torres-Dowdall J, A Farmer; EH Bucher. (2006). Uso de isótopos estables para determinar conectividad migratoria en aves:                          Posibilidades y limitaciones (Using stable isotopes to determine migratory connectivity in birds: possibilities and limitations).                        El  Hornero 21:73-84, Argentina.
[2]    Edelaar P., Torres-Dowdall J., & Abril M. (2005). Probable first record of a drinking seedsnipe (Family Thinocoridae) in the wild. WSG            Bulletin 106:62-63.
[1]    Farmer A, Abril M, Fernandez M, Torres J, Kester C & Bern C. (2004). Using stable isotopes to associate migratory shorebirds with                their wintering locations in Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 15:377-384.

Harer et al. 2019

Schneider et al. 2020

Karagic et al. 2018

Torres-Dowdall et al. 2020