Sarah Kingston

Associate Professor

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EDUCATION

• PhD in Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics from the University of Maryland, College Park
• MS in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston
• BA in History from the College of William and Mary

ACADEMIC PROGRAM(S)

• Biology
• Environmental Science and Policy

COURSES TAUGHT

• ES 103 Introduction to Ecosystems and Wildlife Conservation
• ES 104 Introduction to Natural Resources Conservation
• ES 490 Senior Capstone
• ES 480 Junior Seminar

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND AREAS

I leverage genomic data sets to illuminate fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes in wild populations. My research foci fall into three major lines of inquiry: population genomics and phylogeography in the pelagic ecosystem, adaptive responses to climate change, and fisheries and aquaculture in a changing environment. I aim to elucidate the underlying factors driving patterns of biological diversity in wild, non-model systems, all while remaining on the forefront of genome-scale data collection and computational analysis.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Professional Memberships

• American Geophysical Union
• Society for the Study of Evolution

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Balakrishnan, C.N., Toda, Y., Ko, M.-C., Wirthlin, M.E., Driver, R.J., Bolton, P.E., Miller, E.T., Mendez-Aranda, D., Dikow, R.B., Frandsen, P.B., Shogren, E.H., Bennett, K.F.P., Anderson, H.L., Bursell, M.G., Cramer, J.F., Sadanandan, K.R., Nakagita, T., Pizo, M.A., Caetano, D.S., Anciaes, M., Bertuol, C.F., Berv, J.S., Long, K.M., Lim, H.C., Moncrieff, A.E., Kingston, S.E., White Carreiro, N.D., Friedrich, S.R., Cuta, C.A., Pease, J.B., Nevue, A.A., Tomlinson, C., Zimin, A., Louder, M.I.M., Brewer, M.S., Bay, R.A., Ruegg, K., Smith, T.B., Ishimaru, Y., Pfenning, A.R., Gahr, M., Mello, C.V., Kimball, R.T., Braun, E.L., Blake, J.G., Day, L.B., Ryder, T.B., Moore, I.T., Horton, B.M., Schlinger, B.A., Fuxjager, M.J., Warren, W.C., DuVal, E.H., Boyle, W.A., Loiselle, B.A., Braun, M.J., Baldwin, M.W. 2026. Genomic and physiological changes in a sexually selected and frugivorous bird radiation.  Current Biology. 36: 1-16. 10.1016/j.cub.2026.05.021

Lim, H.C., Bennett, K.F.P., Justyn, N.M., Powers, M.J., Long, K.M., Kingston S.E., Lindsay, W.R., Pease, J.B., Fuxjager, M.J., Bolton, P.E., Balakrishnan, C.N., Day, L.B., Parsons, T.J., Brawn, J.D., Hill, G.E., Braun, M.J. 2024. Sequential introgression of a carotenoid processing gene underlies sexual ornament diversity in a genus of manakins. Science Advances. 10: eadn8339. 10.1126/sciadv.adn8339

DeRaad, D.A., Applewhite, E.E., Tsai, W.L.E., Terrill, R.S., Kingston, S.E., Braun, M.J., McCormack, J.E. 2023. Hybrid zone or hybrid lineage: a genomic reevaluation of Sibley’s classic species conundrum in Pipilo towhees. Evolution. 77 (3): 852–869.
Prasad M.P, Detchou D.K., Wang F., Ledwidge L.L, Kingston S.E., Horch H.W. 2021. Transcriptional expression changes during compensatory plasticity in the terminal ganglion of the adult cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. BMC Genomics. 22: 742. 10.1186/s12864-021-08018-x

Khaitov V., Marchenko J., Katolikova M., Väinölä R., Kingston S.E., Carlon D.B., Gantsevich M., Strelkov P. 2021. Species identification based on a semi-diagnostic marker: evaluation of a simple conchological test for distinguishing hybridizing mussels Mytilus edulis L. and M. trossulus Gould. PLoS ONE. 16(7): e0249587. 10.1371/journal.pone.0249587

Martino P., Carlon D.B., Kingston S.E. 2019. Blue mussel (genus Mytilus) transcriptome response to simulated climate change in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Shellfish Research. 38(3): 587-602. 10.2983/035.038.0310 

Kingston S.E., Martino P., Melendy M., Reed F., Carlon D.B. 2018. Linking genotype to phenotype in a changing ocean: inferring the genomic architecture of a blue mussel stress response with genome-wide association. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 31: 346-361. 10.1111/jeb.13224

Rodríguez-Clark K.M., Davidson B., Kingston S.E., Coyle B.J., Huddleston C., Duchesne P., Braun M.J. 2018. Evaluating a potential source of founders for ex situ conservation efforts: Genetic differentiation between disjunct populations of the endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus). Endangered Species Research. 36:183-196. 10.3354/esr00898

Fernandez Robledo J.A., Marquis N.D., Countway P.D., Record N.R, Irish E.L. Schuldt M., Kingston S.E., Bishop T., Messerman N.A., Bowden T.J. 2018. Pathogens of marine bivalves in Maine (USA): a historical perspective. Aquaculture. 493: 9-17. 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.04.042

Reddy S., Kimball R.T., Pandey A., Hosner P.A., Braun M.J., Hackett S.J., Han K-L., Harshman J., Huddleston C.J., Kingston S.E., Marks B.D., Miglia K.J., Moore W.S., Sheldon F.H., Witt C.C., Yuri T., and Braun E.L. 2017. Why do phylogenomic data sets yield conflicting trees? Data type influences the avian tree of life more than taxon sampling. Systematic Biology. 66:857-869. 10.1093/sysbio/syx041

Kingston S.E., Parchman T.P., Gompert Z., Buerkle C.A., and Braun M.J. 2017. Heterogeneity and concordance in locus-specific differentiation and introgression between species of towhees. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 30: 474-485. 10.1111/jeb/13033 

Kingston S.E., Navarro-Sigüenza A.G., García-Trejo E.A., Vázquez H., Fagan W.F., Braun M.J. 2014. Genetic differentiation and habitat connectivity across towhee hybrid zones in Mexico. Evolutionary Ecology. 28(2): 277-297. 10.1007/s10682-013-9673-8

Kingston S.E., Jernigan R.W., Fagan W.F., Braun D., Braun M.J. 2012. Genomic variation in cline shape across a hybrid zone. Ecology and Evolution 2(11): 2737–2748. 10.1002/ece3.375

Kingston S.E., Adams L.D., Rosel P.E. 2009. Testing mitochondrial sequences and anonymous nuclear markers for phylogeny reconstruction in a rapidly radiating group: molecular systematics of the Delphininae (Cetacea: Odontoceti: Delphinidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology 9:245. 10.1186/1471-2148-9-245

Kingston S.E., Rosel P.E. 2004. Genetic differentiation among recently diverged Delphinid taxa determined using AFLP markers. Journal of Heredity 95:1-10. 10.1093/jhered/esh010