Education

2001 Ph.D., Biology; University of Miami, Florida.

Title: Phylogenetic Analysis of the Nominal Genus Norops (Reptilia:

Sauria): classification, evolution, and biogeography.

Advisor: Dr. Jay M. Savage

1995 M.S., Zoology; Auburn University, Alabama.

Title: Phylogenetic Analysis of Beta Anoles.

Advisor: Dr. Craig Guyer

1991 B.S., Biology/Vertebrate Zoology; University of Memphis, Tennessee.

Positions Held

2003 ≠ present Head, Nominating Committee for the Society for the Study of Amphibians and

Reptiles

2001 ≠ present Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Advisors: Dr. Jonathan Losos and Dr. Allan Larson.

2001 (Spring) Lecturer, BIL 161 General Biology Laboratories, Department of Biology,

University of Miami

2000 (Summer, Fall) Research Assistant, USGS Inventory and Monitoring Program, through the

Department of Biology, University of Miami.

1998 ≠ 1999 Researcher, Molecular Systematics lab with Dr Brian Crother and Dr. Mary

White, Southeastern Louisiana State University.

1998 ≠ 1999 President, Biology Graduate Student Association, Department of Biology,

University of Miami

1995 ≠ 1999 Assistant Curator, Costa Rican Expeditions Herpetological Collections,

Department of Biology, University of Miami

1995 ≠ 2000 Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Miami

1995 ≠ 1996 Representative (Biology), Graduate Student Association, Department of

Biology, University of Miami

1995 (summer) Teaching Assistant, La Suerte Biological Station, La Suerte, Costa Rica

1991 ≠ 1995 Assistant Curator, Museum of Herpetology Collection, Auburn University

1994 ≠ 1995 Research Assistant, Georgia Nature Conservancy and Department of Natural

Resources, Ft. Benning, Georgia, through Auburn University.

1988 (summer) Research Assistant, to Dr. Art Dunham and Dr. Karen Overall,

Big Bend National Park, Texas

1986 ≠ 1991 Museum Technician, Museum of Mammalogy, University of Memphis

Teaching Experience

2001 (Spring) Lecturer, General Biology Laboratory, University of Miami

1995 - 2000 Graduate Teaching Assistant: University of Miami

General Biology Labs (Fall 1995, Spring 1996, 1998,

1999, 2000, Summer 1998

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (Fall 1996, 1998)

1995 Summer Teaching Assistant: La Suerte Biological Station, Costa Rica

Tropical Biology (three courses with Dr. Pete Lahanas)

Primate Ecology (one course with Dr. Suzanne Walker)

1991 - 1994 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Auburn University

Human Anatomy Labs (Fall, Spring, and Summer 1991 ≠ 1994)

Curatorial Experience

1995 ≠ 1998 Assistant Curator; Costa Rican Expeditions Collection (Herpetology),

University of Miami.

1991 - 1995 Assistant Curator: Auburn University Museum of Herpetology.

1987 - 1988 Technician: University of Memphis Museum of Mammalogy.

Honors and Awards

1999 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Biology, University of Miami.

1997 Outstanding Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Biology, University of Miami.

1994 Outstanding Masters Graduate Student in the College of Science and Mathematics, Auburn University.

1988 Best Student Paper. Tennessee Academy of Sciences, 1988. Experimental test of discrimination by squirrels for insect infested and noninfested acorns.

Grants

1999 $500 Gaige Award (Association for the Study of Ichthyology

and Herpetology).

1999 $10,000 National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant.

1998 $300 Graduate Association Funds Allocation Committee, University of

Miami.

1998 $300 Graduate Research Award, University of Miami.

1997-1998 $12,000 Tropical Biology Fellowship, University of Miami.

1994 $1,500 Pilot Award Grant from the Organization of Tropical

Studies to conduct the study "Mate choice or food

limitation: testing the hypotheses in Norops humilis" at La

Selva, Costa Rica.

Posters and Presentations (*indicates invited)

*2004 ≥Pacific Island Anolis and Adventures in Colombia≤. Herpetology Group Seminar,

Washington University, St. Louis, MO. 8 Sept. 2004.

2004 ≥Distribution, Dewlaps, and Toes: three stories of Anolis evolutionary biology≤.

The Field Museum, Chicago, IL. 17 March 2004.

2003 ≥Are dewlaps like snowflakes? Exploring the evolution of Anolis dewlap morphology≤.

Joint Meeting of the Herpetological Societies in Manaus, Brazil. 30 June 2003.

*2002 ≥Evolutionary Biology of Anolis lizards in mainland and Caribbean habitats≤.

Departmental Seminar, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. 18 October 2002.

2002 ≥Further Evolutionary Investigations of Mainland Anoles≤. Joint Meeting of the

Herpetological Societies (ASIH, SSAR) in Kansas City, MO. 7 July 2002

*2002 ≥What about the other half? Evolutionary investigations of Norops, the mainland

counterpart to Caribbean Anolis lizards≤. Departmental Seminar, Department of Biology, University of Illinois, Carbondale. 21 February 2002.

*2000 ≥Phylogenetics and Classification of Norops: examination of the series≤. Department of

Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO. 13 December 2000.

*2000 ≥Mainland biogeography: testing the hypotheses with Anolis phylogenetics≤. ASIH Symposium in honor of Jay M. Savage, joint meeting of the herpetological societies [Association for the Study of Ichthyology and Herpetology (ASIH), Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), and the Herpetologistπs League (HL)]. La Paz, Mexico.

*1999 ≥Phylogenetics and Biogeography of beta Anolis≤. Anolis Symposium at the joint meeting of

herpetological societies (ASIH, SSAR, HL). Penn State, PA.

*1999 ≥The effects of tail autotomy of territory establishment by brown anoles (Anolis sagrei)≤. Poster presented with A.V. Paterson (first author), joint meeting of herpetological societies (ASIH, SSAR, HL). Penn State, PA.

1994 ≥Mate choice or food limitation: testing the alternatives in Norops humilis≤. Joint meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Athens, GA.

1992 ≥RAPD analysis of four populations of eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus)≤ (poster with Michael C. Wooten). Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. El Paso, TX.

1988 ≥Experimental test of discrimination by squirrels for insect infested and noninfested acorns≤. Student presentation. Annual meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Sciences. Memphis, TN.

Professional Service

Ad-hoc reviewer for journals:

Amphibian-Reptilia

Copeia

Journal of Herpetology

Salamandra

Senckenbergiana Biologica

Herpetological Monographs

Ad-hoc grant proposal reviewer:

2004 American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists Gaige Award.

2002, 2003 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Grants in Herpetology, ≥Travel≤ and ≥Laboratory Research≤ sections.

Mentoring:

1998 ≠ 2000 Co-Mentor (with Paul M. Richards): Univ. of Miami NIH Bridges Program

Students: Katherine Herrera (1998 only) and Maite Urbieta.

Project Title: Morphological and molecular comparisons of an introduced

anole (Anolis porcatus) and a native congener (Anolis carolinensis).

1997 Co-Mentor (with Paul M. Richards): Univ. of Miami NIH Bridges Program

Student: Yasir Khan

Project Title: Ecology and natural history of introduced Anolis equestris

in South Florida.

Other:

2001-2004 Judge, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles ≠ Seibert Award.

2001, 2002 Coordinator, Graduate Student Reprint Grab at the joint herpetological

meetings.

Publications

Nicholson, K.E., R.E. Glor, J.J. Kolbe, A. Larson, S. Blair Hedges, and J.B. Losos. 2004. Mainland

colonization by island lizards. Journal of Biogeography (in press).

Gutsche, A., J.R. McCranie, and K.E. Nicholson. 2004. Field observations on the natural history of Norops

utilensis Kˆhler 1996 (Reptilia, Squamata) with comments about its conservation status.. Salamandra (in press).

Nicholson, K.E. 2004. Historical biogeographic relationships within the tropical lizard genus Norops.

Chapter 14 in Ecology and Evolution in the Tropics: essays in honor of Jay M. Savage. Donnelley et al., eds. University of Chicago Press (in press).

Kˆhler, G., J.R. McCranie, K.E. Nicholson, and J. Kreutz. 2003. Geographic variation in hemipenis

morphology in Norops humilis (Peters), and the status of N. quaggulus (Cope) (Squamata: Polychrotidae). Senckenbergiana Biologica 82:213-222.

McCranie, J.R., F.E. CastaÒeda, and K.E. Nicholson. 2002. Preliminary results of herpetofaunal survey work

in the Rus Rus region, Honduras: a proposed biological reserve. British Herpetological Society Bulletin 81:22-29.

McCranie, J.R., K.E. Nicholson, and F.E. CasteÒeda. 2002. Eleutherodactylus diastema. Herpetological

Review 33:220.

Nicholson, K.E. 2002. Phylogenetic analysis and a test of the current infrageneric classification of Norops

(beta Anolis). Herpetological Monographs 16:93-120.

McCranie, J.R., K.E. Nicholson, and G. Kˆhler. 2001. A new species of Norops (Sauria: Polychrotidae) from

northwestern Honduras. Amphibia-Reptilia 22(4):465-473.

Gillespie, T. K.E. Nicholson, and J. McCrary. 2001. Patterns of diversity and conservation in Nicaragua.

Natural Areas Journal 21:159-167.

Nicholson, K.E., R. IbaÒez, C Jaramillo, and K.R. Lips. 2001. Geographic variation and brief natural

history notes in the tropical anole, Anolis casildae (Squamata: Polychrotidae). Revista Biologia Tropical 49(2):709-714.

Kˆhler, G., J.R. McCranie, and K.E. Nicholson. 2000. Eine herpetologische expedition in den Patuca-

Nationalpark, Honduras. Natur und Museum 130(12):421-425.

Nicholson, K.E., J.R. McCranie, and G. Kˆhler. 2000. Herpetofaunal expedition to Parque Nacional Patuca:

a newly established park in Honduras. British Herpetological Society Bulletin 72:26-31.

Nicholson, K.E., A.V. Paterson, and P.M. Richards. 2000. Anolis sagrei Cannibalism. Herpetological

Review 31(3):173.

Nicholson, K.E. 1999. Phylogenetic analysis of Norops (Beta Anolis) species: preliminary data. Anolis

Newsletter V:89≠94.

Nicholson, K.E. and P.M. Richards. 1999. Observations of a population of Cuban Knight Anoles, Anolis

equestris. Anolis Newsletter V:95-98.

Nicholson, K.E. 1999. Anolis casildae Foraging. Herpetological Review 30:96.

Nicholson, K.E. 1998. Enyalioides heterolepis. Herpetological Review 29:174.

Nicholson, K.E. and D.T. Nicolson. 1997. Norops pachypus. Herpetological Review 28:96-97.

Guyer, C., K.E. Nicholson and S. Baucom. 1996. Effects of tracked vehicles on gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) at Fort Benning Military Installation, Georgia. Georgia Journal of Science 54:195-203.

Weckerly, F.W., K.E. Nicholson, and R.D. Semlitsch. 1989. Experimental test of discrimination by squirrels for insect infested and noninfested acorns. American Midland Naturalist 122:412‑415.

Projects/Publications in Progress (annotated list)

Barros, T.R., L.F. Esqueda, A. Mijares-Urrutia, and K.E. Nicholson. The lost link rediscovered: variation and

distribution of Norops annectens (Squamata: Polychrotidae). In review, Herpetologica.

On a recent trip to Venezuela we rediscovered A. annectens. Williams (1974) described this

species on the basis of a single museum specimen and declared it the missing link between the genera Anolis and Tropidodactylus (which was synonymized with Anolis). This species has never been seen live until our discovery in Sept. 2003. We found 16 specimens over a broad range and thus report on the distribution, morphological variation, and behavior of this elusive anole.

Nicholson, K.E., A. Larson, and J.B. Losos. Evolution of dewlap morphology in Caribbean Anolis lizards. In

prep, sending to Journal of the Linnean Society.

We investigate the morphological diversity and evolution of anole dewlaps in this paper. We

first characterize dewlap morphological diversity and propose terminology to describe the 9 patterns exhibited, then test three hypotheses previously proposed to explain the diversity of dewlaps found in the Caribbean. We find no support for any single hypothesis, but find that all three may have played a role in driving selection for size, color and patterning among dewlaps of different species.

Nicholson, K.E., A. Mijares-Urrutia , L. Harmon, and J.B.Losos. Molecular support for the retrograde

evolution hypothesis. In prep, Submitting to Copeia.

We provide molecular data for several poorly known anole species showing support for the

retrograde evolution hypothesis of Williams (1976) where unique anoles have lost the usual toe condition and lack lamellae concomitant with a terrestrial lifestyle.

Nicholson, K.E., and P.M. Richards. Divergent ecology and natural history of the giant canopy anole, Anolis

equestris. In prep, sending to Herpetologica.

This paper investigated the ecology and biology of a canopy anole, a poorly studied

ecological group of lizards. Our data show that home range patterns of this species are very different from other anoles studied to date, and suggests that the behavioral and reproductive ecology of this species is quite divergent from more terrestrial anoles that are better studied to date.

Paterson, AV. and K.E. Nicholson. The effects of tail autotomy on territory establishment by brown

anoles (Anolis sagrei). In prep., sending to Journal of Herpetology.

We conducted experiments to investigate the effects of tail breakage on territoriality in Anolis

sagrei males. We found that tail loss had no effect on territory establishment among males that were size matched, contrary to what other publications had suggested.

Nicholson, K.E., S. Poe, and K. de Queiroz. A re-evaluation of Anolis taxonomy and test application of

PHYLOCODE. In prep.

We are in progress writing up the synonymies for all valid anole names and analyzing all

currently published data to generate the best phylogenetic hypothesis of relationships among anoles. With these data we will apply the new PHYLOCODE rules as a test case for revamping the currently very messy classification of anoles.

Professional Societies

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Hennig Society

Herpetologists League

Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Society for the Study of Evolution

Society of Systematic Biologists