Daniela Daniela Andriamalala
PhD student
Phylogeny of  globin spiders (Oonopidae)
Department of Biological Sciences
George Washington University
2023 G Street. NW
Washington, D.C. 20052
Tel. Lab: (202) 994-6194
Tel. Secretary: (202) 994-6090
Fax: (202) 994-6100
E-Mail: dand@gwu.edu

Education:

Ph.D. Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Fall 2007 to present.
M.S. in Ecology & Systematics, San Francisco State University, December 2006.
A.E.A (degree after B. S) in Ecology & Environment, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 2000.
B.S. in Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, Madagascar, 1996.

Professional Experience:

Fall 2006-Fall 2007

California Academy of Sciences (CAS). Researcher. Taxonomy of the spider genus Platyoides (Trochanteriidae) of Madagascar. Exline-Frizzel Fund.
California Academy of Sciences (CAS). Researcher. Examination of  the ant-mimicking spider genus Myrmarachne (Salticidae) of Madagascar. Exline-Frizzel Fund. 

2000-2004

Madagascar Arthropod  Survey project (CAS Madagascar). Spider specialist, in charge of the collection, identification, preservation, processing of all Malagasy spider specimens.

1998-2000

University of Madagascar and Qit Madagascar Minerals (QMM). Graduate student researcher . Environmental impact study of the Ilmenite mining project in the South Eastern region of Madagascar. Repartition of the underground arthropod fauna in four different sites of different stages of ecological succession .

1999
University of Madagascar and MICET. Reseach assistante. Termite species assemblages in different forest types in Madagascar.
Research Interests:

 My main research interests are in phylogeny, evolution and biogeography of spiders: relationships between ecologically linked taxa, divergence time estimation using molecular sequence data and phenomenon related to changes in rates of evolution in different spiders groups.  

Current Research:

For my thesis research, I am investigating the systematic, evolution and biogeography of the globin spider genus Lionneta (Oonopidae), endemic to Madagascar and the Seychelles Island. I am also interested in the relationships between the genera within the Oonopid group to which they belong.

Field Experience:

Madagascar

Toliara province: Fort dauphin-Mandena, Sainte Luce, Petriky Forest, 1997-1998.

Fianarantsoa province: Réserve Spécial Manombo, 1999 -  Parc National Ranomafana, 1999 - Parc National Ivohibe, 1999.

Toamasina province: Parc National Andasibe, 2001- Ivoloina Parc Zoologique 2003 - Parc National Masoala-Ambohitsitondroina, 2003.

Antsiranana province: Réserve de Lokobe 2001.

Antananarivo province: Forêt d’Andranomay, 2000 - Réserve Spécial d'Ambohitantely, 2003 - Forêt d'Ankazobe, 2003.

Selected Grants and Awards:

August 2007-2012
Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) Fund for Doctoral student.
Sept 2006-August 2007
Exline-Frizzel Fund of the California Academy of Sciences.
2003
Lakeside Foundation Award for International Students.
2002
MacBean Foundation Award for International Students.
2000, 2002
California Academy of Sciences Travel Grant .

Membership:

ISA. International Society of Arachnology.

AAS. The American Arachnological Society.
Meetings attended:

Andriamalala, D. 2007. Revision of the genus “Padilla” Peckham & Peckham, 1894 (Araneae – Salticidae). Convergent evolution of secondary sexual characters due to sexual selection and rates of molecular evolution in jumping spiders. Pacific Coast Entomological Society Meeting.

Publications:

Andriamalala, D. 2007. Revision of the genus “Padilla” Peckham & Peckham, 1894 (Araneae – Salticidae). Convergent evolution of secondary sexual characters due to sexual selection and rates of molecular evolution in jumping spiders. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Volume 58(13): 243-330.

Andriamalala, D., and D. Ubick. 2007. New species of the spider genus Platyoides from Madagascar (Araneae – Trochanteriidae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume 58(13): 339-349.