Jonathan Richardson's Lab
Our lab integrates ecology, evolution and genomics to study applied issues related to urban ecology, epidemiology, and wildlife conservation. We use genetic information to understand why species are found in the environments they are, how they move around the landscape, and what this movement means for how they interact with humans (e.g., zoonotic disease risk) and human-altered landscapes. Much of this research occurs in and around major cities. We use tools from landscape genetics, habitat suitability modeling, epidemiology and other fields to answer these questions. We have projects in Richmond, New York City, Salvador (Brazil), and several other cities around the world.
Current Projects
- Movement and habitat use of rats in cities around the world
- Global trends in urban rat population size and zoonotic disease risk
- Effects of urban habitat on native species, particularly how movement and dispersal differ along an urban to rural gradient
- Impacts that lethal pest control has on long-term viability of urban rats and zoonotic disease risk
University of Richmond Research Students
Nicholas Parlavecchio (’27)Andrés Mauco (’26)
Jeff Tsai (’26)
Kalynn Cheeks (’25)
Anna Voit (’24)
Abrielle Mecray (’24)
Faye Parker (’24)
Eli Beech-Brown (’24)
Elmer Sobalbarro-Umana (’23)
Libby McCoy (’23)
Justin Butler (’23)
Emily Cassady (’23)
Katelyn Wing (’22)
Ryan Szykowny (’22)
Angelique Steenhagen (’22)
Maddie Adkison (’22)
Than Thar Aye (’22)