Boughman - People

Research Assistants

Mallory Barnes
Paul Kell
Claire Long
Melissa Reisland
Matt Rounds

Past Lab Members

Nicole Rafferty
Kris Aquilino
Dana Bigham
Angus Chandler
Kurt Hagemann
Andy Henn
Jen Hutchens
Emily Kalnicky
Robert Kirchner
Eva Lewandowski
Melanie Nelson
Nate Rogers
Brian Schreier
Andrea Brauer
Kevin Loope

Postoctoral Researchers

Megan

Megan Head

Publications

B.S. - Australian National University, 2001
P.h.D - University of New South Wales, 2005

My broad research interests are in the field of evolutionary and behavioural ecology. More specifically, I’m interested in the evolution of mate choice. For instance, how do female mate choice decisions affect their fitness? How does selection act on males to produce exaggerated sexual ornaments? How do indirect genetic effects influence the evolution of mate choice? Can mate choice evolve when there are costs to being choosy? How do environmental parameters affect mate choice decisions?...So many questions...

In the Boughman lab I will be applying this interest to investigating how mate choice contributes to speciation and the maitenance of reproductive isolation between species pairs (i.e. benthic and limnetic sticklebacks that live in the same lake).

Graduate Students

Genevieve (Genny) Kozak

B.S. Cornell University, 2004

University Fellow 2004-2005
NSF Predoctoral Fellow 2005-2008

I am a PhD student in the Zoology program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and interested in how social behavior contributes to the evolution of reproductive isolation and speciation. I am investigating this question in Jenny Boughman’s lab by testing how social experience influence preferences for group members and mates between the recently evolved sympatric benthic and limnetic stickleback species. To determine if experience alters recognition in these species, I am looking at how experience with parents (imprinting) and experience with other juveniles alters schooling behavior and mate choice.

Genny Kozak's Page

Alycia CR Lackey

B.S. Biology - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006

I started my Ph.D. program in the Boughman Lab at UW-Madison in 2006, and I have interests in evolution, behavior, and selection.

I am currently exploring the precursors and consequences of hybridization between two species of threespine sticklebacks. I am asking what ecological changes may have facilitated hybridization between these previously reproductively isolated species. What combinations of morphologies and behaviors have the highest fitness in the new environment? Will introgression continue until the two previously distinct species are lost? This research allows a unique way to study the mechanisms of speciation because we are witnessing the breakdown of reproductive isolation and speciation is typically studied in the forward direction.

I also have interests in teaching science, designing and developing curricula, and sharing my passion for the study of evolution with others.

Research Assistants

Mallory Barnes

I am a third year undergraduate studying biology at UW-Madison. My interests include marine biology, animal behavior, and primates. I've been working in the lab since July 2006 as a research assistant. The past year in lab I've been taking data on several components of a large selection experiment, including mate choice, female fecundity, growth, and survival.

Paul Kell

After receiving an Associate Degree from UWMC I have transferred here to Madison and am joining the Boughman Lab as a senior majoring in Zoology. I join sharing the common interest of gaining insight into phenotypic and behavioral divergences within a species that can lead to speciation. Closely related interests include behavioral and morphological evolution, experimental design, and the process of conducting research. In summary, I am interested in exploring the mechanisms that lead to speciation and hence the adaptive radiation of life. Life is seen to be the most special aspect of, yet one that is certainly not unique to, our planet. The underlying processes that help shape it has, and continues to fascinate me and drives my efforts in the lab.

Claire Long

I am a third year undergraduate here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I am double majoring in Zoology and Biological Aspects of Conservation. I'm particularly interested in fishes, trees, and behavioral ecology.

Melissa Reisland

Melissa B.S. - College of Wooster, 2004

I’m a second year graduate student in Biological Anthropology here at Madison. I am interested in primate behavior, specifically social behavior, and anthropogenic effects on primate behavior. I received my undergraduate degree in Biology from the College of Wooster in 2004. I traveled to Costa Rica to study vocal behavior in white-faced capuchin monkeys for my senior thesis at Wooster. I then spent seven months in Cape Town working as a research assistant on a project measuring the effects of monitors on baboons that live near the city. In the lab, I am working on a project to see how different lighting conditions affect mate preference in limnetic and benthic sticklebacks.