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Ecology and evolution of ultraviolet and near-infrared color
Ecology and evolution of ultraviolet and near-infrared color
As humans, we often focus on natural phenomena that we ourselves can experience. But the reality is, there is so much more that meets the eye happening all around us at any given moment. Color beyond the limits of human spectral sensitivities shape organism ecology, physiology, and ultimately evolution. My work investigates evolutionary and ecological patterns of visible and "hidden" (UV & NIR) color across the natural world using snakes, wall lizards, and swallowtail butterflies.
Selected works:
Harmel, M. V.*, Crowell, H. L., Whelan, J. M.*, & Taylor, E. N. (2020). Rattlesnake colouration affects detection by predators. Journal of Zoology, 311(4), 260-268. (*undergraduate mentees)
Thermal ecology of squamates across environmental gradients
Thermal ecology of squamates across environmental gradients
How does thermal ecology of a species change across changing environments? My research investigates the physiological and behavioral consequences of species inhabiting extreme environments, from the micro- to macrohabitat scale. I am most curious as to how snakes and lizards within a given species mitigate the physiological effects across thermally-heterogeneous species ranges and the role that color may play in such adaptation. My main study systems for this work are coastal and inland populations of Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) in Central California and Aegean wall lizards (Podarcis erhardii) in the Greek Cycladic islands.
Selected works:
Moniz, H. A., Buck, J. H.*, Crowell, H. L., Goetz, S. M., Ruiz, T. D., Taylor, E. N., & Boback, S. M. (2024). High thermal quality rookeries facilitate high thermoregulatory accuracy in pregnant female rattlesnakes. Journal of Thermal Biology, 103948. (*undergraduate mentees)
Museum side-quests
Museum side-quests
In addition to my main research on color and physiology, I LOVE natural history museums and try to involve them in my work whenever possible. Current projects include studies on sea snake diets, CT scanning methodology, and the use of museum specimens in online teaching. As a student of the COVID era, I recognize that museum collections played a huge role in the completion of my dissertation and I will always support and emphasize their importance in the progress of scientific research.
Selected works:
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