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Kerry L Shaw

Professor

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

The research in my laboratory investigates the nature and origin of species, focusing on genetic and phylogenetic behavioral changes that diverge early in speciation. Current research effort focuses on studies of reproductive behavior and the evolution of mate recognition among closely related species. Investigations of speciation in my laboratory include analyses of species boundaries (through analysis of DNA sequence and phenotypic variation), microevlutionary divergence through local population-level processes, and the genomic and phylogenetic consequences of speciation (through QTL studies of the genetic architecture and phylogenetic patterns of character evolution). Much of our research is focused on the cricket genus Laupala, a system where mate recognition evolution characterizes closely related species, sexual selection is a likely mechanism of early lineage divergence, genetic dissection of mate recognition and related traits is feasible, and phylogenetic replication of the process exists. With 38 species endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago, Laupala offers an exceptional model to test hypotheses regarding the role of mate recognition evolution in speciation.

Research Grants

  • DISSERTATION RESEARCH: MOLECULAR INVESTIGATIONS OF NATURAL VARIATION IN CALLING SONG, A RHYTHMIC MOTOR PATTERN, IN THE HAWAIIAN CRICKET LAUPALA
  • THE BEHAVORIAL GENETICS AND EVOLUTION OF CRICKET SONG
  • THE RESPONSE OF A SEASONAL ECTOTHERM (ALLONEMOBIUS SOCIUS) TO GLOBAL WARMING
  • THE GENETICS OF FEMALE ACOUSTIC PREFERENCE BEHAVIOR

Selected Publications

PubMed Listings

Danley, P. D., Fergus, D. J., de Carvalho, T., and Shaw, K. L. (2007).  A clockwork cricket:  Reproductive asynchrony and the divergence of Hawaiian crickets. Ethology, 113:1125-1132

Shaw, K. L., Parsons, Y. M. and Lesnick, S. (2007). A QTL analysis of a rapid speciation phenotype in the Hawaiian cricket Laupala. Molecular Ecology, 16: 2879–2892.

Danley, P. D., Mullen, S. P., Lui, F., Quackenbush, J. and Shaw, K. L. (2007). A cricket gene index: A genomic resource for studying neurobiology, speciation and molecular evolution. BMC Genomics 8:109-125.

Mullen, S. P., Mendelson, T. C., Schal, C. and Shaw, K. L. (2007). Rapid evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons in a species radiation of acoustically diverse Hawaiian crickets (Gryllidae: Trigonidiinae: Laupala). Evolution 61: 223-231.

Mendelson, T. C. and Shaw, K. L. (2006). The effect of close-range acoustic signaling on mate choice in Hawaiian crickets (Gryllidae: Laupala). Behav. Ecol. Soc. 59: 770–776.

Jost, M. C. and Shaw, K. L. (2006). Phylogeny of the Ensifera (Hexapoda: Orthoptera) using 3 ribosomal loci, with implications for the evolution of acoustic communication. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 510-530.
Mendelson, T. C. and Shaw, K. L. 2005. Rapid speciation in an arthropod. Nature 433: 375-376.

Mendelson, T. C., Siegel, A. M. and Shaw, K. L. (2004). Testing geographical pathways of speciation in a recent island radiation. Molecular Ecology 13: 3787 –3796.

Grace, J. L. and Shaw, K. L. (2004). Effects of developmental environment on signal preference coupling in a Hawaiian cricket. Evolution 58: 1627-1633.

Shaw, K. L. and Khine, A. (2004). Courtship behavior in the Hawaiian cricket Laupala cerasina: males provide spermless spermatophores as nuptial gifts. Ethology 110: 81-96.