Alison Ossip-Drahos, Ph.D.

Biography

I earned a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from Indiana University. I was an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of North Georgia and Middle Georgia State University before coming to Marian University in 2020. My current research interests focus on understanding the evolution of multimodal communication and resistance to climate change, primarily in lizards. My teaching focuses on environmental science, ecology and evolution, and behavioral ecology.

Courses

• SCI170/171L: Science, the Environment and Society

• BIO327/327L: Behavioral Ecology

• SCI/GLS305: Global Perspectives in Environmental Science

Research Interests

• Evolution of multimodal communication in spiny lizards
• Impacts of climate change on signaling behaviors
• Evolution and function of animal coloration

University Service

• Faculty Senate, Member
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Member
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Alternate Scientist

Publications

• Erudaitius, A.P., Pruett, J.A., Campos, S.M., Ossip-Drahos, A.G., Lannoo, S.J., Zúñiga-Vega, J.J., Vital-García, C., Hews, D.K., Martins, E.P., Romero-Diaz, C. (2023) Vomeronasal organ volume increases with body size and is dissociated with loss of a visual signal in Sceloporus lizards. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 37: 89-99.

• Romero-Diaz, C., Wetherell, B, Ury, D, Reuter, M, Martins, E.P., Pruett, J.A., Ossip-Drahos, A.G. (2023) Population differences in multimodal lizard communication are not well explained by habitat or history. Ethology 129:655-665.

• Cavagnaro, J., Ossip-Drahos, A.G., Martins, E.P. (2023) Fashion or Function?: Relaxed selection and stasis are key features of the evolution of stripes, bands, and collars in Sceloporus lizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 139: 214-230
• Woodward, P., Pressler, J., Stuart, S., Zúñiga-Vega, J.J., Vital-García, C., Hews, D.K., Martins, E.P., Ossip-Drahos, A.G. (2022) Sceloporus undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard) and Sceloporus megalepidurus (Largescale Spiny Lizard; Espinosa Corredora). Mating headbob displays. Herpetological Review 53: 138-139.

• Zúñiga-Vega, J.J., Pruett, J.A., Ossip-Drahos, A.G., Campos, S.M., Seddon, R.J., Price, S.L., Romero-Diaz, C., Rivera, J.A., Vital-García, C., Hews, D.K., Martins, E.P. (2021) Information out of the blue: phenotypic correlates of abdominal color patches in Sceloporus lizards. Zoology 149: 125961.

• Romero-Diaz, C., Pruett, J.A., Campos, S.M., Ossip-Drahos, A.G., Zúñiga-Vega, J.J., Vital-García, C., Hews, D.K., Martins, E.P. (2021) Evolutionary loss of a signaling colour is linked to increased response to conspecific chemicals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288: 20210256.  

• Cain, P., Ossip-Drahos, A.G., Mitchell, W.A., Hews, D.K. (2020) Hidden in plain sight: assessing the potential for ultraviolet as a signal in Sceloporus lizards. Herpetological Review 51:451-456