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The Evans lab is interested in the ecology and evolution of phenotypic diversity, integrating data from developmental biology, ecology, biomechanics and phylogeny to understand this process at various timescales. Teleost fishes provide a unique opportunity to ask these questions and study the origins of phenotypic diversity along with the interface between phenotype and environment, within the most species-rich assemblage of vertebrates on the planet. Our research program is centered on three questions:
1. How do patterns of ontogenetic variation scale to patterns of phenotypic diversity? 2. How do intrinsic (ontogenetic constraints) and extrinsic (environmental variation) factors influence patterns of phenotypic diversification and convergence? 3. How do functional traits covary in development and evolution? Follow me on twitter! @Sternarchella |
Kory M. Evans
Rice University
Department of Biosciences
6100 Main St, Rice University MS-170, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: 215-490-4762
Email: Kory.Evans@rice.edu
Website: koryevans.weebly.com
EDUCATION
B.Sc. Nova Southeastern University 2013
Marine Biology
Advisor: Dr. Paul Arena
Thesis: Who's eating who? Agonism in marine fish species.
Ph.D. University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2017
Biological Sciences
Advisor: Dr. James Albert
Dissertation: Evolution of craniofacial diversity in Neotropical electric fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei).
RESEARCH SYNOPSIS
I am an evolutionary biologist broadly interested in the development, evolution and
ecology of phenotypic diversity in teleost fishes. My research integrates developmental biology, biomechanics, phylogenetic comparative methods, and ecology to understand how phenotypes develop, evolve, and interact with their respective environments across multiple time scales and how intrinsic (development) and extrinsic (environment) mechanisms influence patterns of phenotypic diversity.
POSITIONS/EMPLOYMENT
Rice University
Assistant Professor 2020-Present
Brown University 2019- 2020
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2017-2019
CFANS Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2013-2017
SREB Doctoral Fellow
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2019 Brown University Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship $126,000.00
2018 Sabes Fund for Genomics and Life Epigenetics $ 2500.00
2018 Overt TCN Small Grant $ 2500.00
2017 CFANS Postdoctoral Fellowship $ 100,000.00
2017 Friday Harbor Laboratories Wainwright Fellowship $450.00
2014 University of Louisiana Graduate Student Organization Scientific Development Grant $250.00
2013 Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Fellowship $100,000.00
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (* denotes undergraduate co-author)
Bernt, M. J., Fronk, A. H., Evans, K. M., & Albert, J. S. 2020. A redescription of deep-channel ghost knifefish, Sternarchogiton preto (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae), with assignment to a new genus. Neotropical Ichthyology, 18(1).
Evans, K., Kim, L., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2019. Ecomorphology of Neotropical electric fishes: an integrative approach to testing the relationships between form, function and trophic ecology. Integrative Organismal Biology: doi:10.1093/iob/obz015.
Evans, K., Williams, K., Westneat, M. 2019. Do Coral Reefs Promote Morphological Diversification? Exploration of Habitat Effects on Labrid Pharyngeal Jaw Evolution in the Era of Big Data. Integrative and Comparative Biology: doi: 10.1093/icb/icz026.
Evans, K., Vidal-Garcia, M., Tagliacollo, V., *Taylor, S., Fenolio, D. 2019. Bony Patchwork: Mosaic Patterns of Evolution in the Skull of Electric Fishes (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes). Integrative and Comparative Biology: https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icz026.
Evans, K., Kolmann, M., Bernt, M., Ford, K., Albert, J. 2018. Why the long face? Static allometry in the sexually dimorphic phenotypes of Neotropical electric fishes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society: doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly076.
Kolmann, M., *Huie, J., Evans, K., Summers, A. 2018. Specialized specialists and the narrow niche fallacy: a tale of scale-feeding fishes. Royal Society Open Science: 5: 171581, doi: 10.1098/rsos.171581.
Evans, K., Savage, A., Albert, J. 2018. Spinal abnormalities in a specimen of the Panamanian Knifefish Apteronotus rostratus (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei) with comments on gymnotiform locomotion. Copeia 106:130-134, doi: 10.1643/CI-17-598.
Evans, K., Crampton, W., Albert, J. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the deep-channel electric fish genus Sternarchella (Eigenmann and Ward, 1905) (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes: Teleostei), with descriptions of two new species. Neotropical Ichthyology, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160168.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2017. Why the Short Face? Developmental Disintegration between Face and Braincase Regions Drives Convergent Evolution in Neotropical Electric Fishes. Ecology & Evolution 7: 1783-1801, doi: 10.1002/ece3.2704.
Evans, K., Waltz, B. Tagliacollo, V., Sidlauskas, B., Albert, J. 2017. Fluctuations in Evolutionary Integration Allow for Big Brains and Disparate Faces. Scientific Reports: 40431, doi: 10.1038/srep40431.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Evans, K., Albert, J. 2017. Field Guide to South American Freshwater Fishes: Hypopomidae.
INVITED TALKS & SYMPOSIA
Evans, K., Sperstad, ZE., Westneat, M. 2019. Evolutionary Convergence and Constraints on the Skull Shape of Burrowing Wrasses. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Prague.
Evans, K., Taylor, S., Fenolio, D. 2019. Bony Patchwork: Mosaic Patterns of Evolution in the Teleost Skull. “Multifunctional structures and multistructural functions: Functional coupling and integration in the evolution of biomechanical systems.” Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Evans, K., Williams, K., Westneat, M. 2019. Do coral reefs act as a crucible for morphological innovation? A critical reappraisal of the effect of coral reef habitats on the evolution of morphological diversity in wrasses in the era of big data. “Comparative Evolutionary Morphology and Biomechanics in the Era of Big Data.”
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. Natural History Museum in London
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. George Washington University
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. Brown University
Evans, K. 2018. The mighty mandible: Mosaic evolution facilitates trophic specialization in electric fish skulls. University of Washington.
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. University of Michigan.
Evans, K. 2017. The utility of rapid prototyping to morphological and natural history studies. Carl Gans Natural History-Engines of Inspiration. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2017. Developmental bias facilitates trophic diversification in Amazonian electric fishes. St. Cloud State University.
PRESENTATIONS
Evans, K., Sperstad, ZE., Westneat, M. 2019. Evolutionary Convergence and Constraints on the Skull Shape of Burrowing Wrasses. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, TX.
Evans, K., Kim, L., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2018. The mighty mandible: Mosaic evolution facilitates trophic specialization in electric fish skulls. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Rochester, NY
Evans, K., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2017. Developmental bias facilitates trophic diversification in Amazonian electric fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Albert, J. 2017. Why the Long Face? Sexual Dimorphism in Neotropical Electric-Fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). Society of Systematic Biologists, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert. J. 2017. Modularity begets brachycephaly: Repeated patterns of neurocranial evolution in Neotropical electric fishes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2016. Modularity begets brachycephaly: Repeated patterns of neurocranial evolution in Neotropical electric fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Sidlauskas, B., Albert, J. 2016. Evolutionary Modularity allows for Big Brains and Strange Faces. Society for the Study of Evolution. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2015. Heterocephaly: Evolution of the vertebrate skull along the lines of lines of least developmental resistance. Society for the Study of Evolution. Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil.
Evans, K. 2014. Evolution of Neurocranial Morphology Along Lines of Least Developmental Resistance in Neotropical Electric-Fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). Annual Graduate Student Symposium, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, Louisiana.
Evans, K. 2014. On Knives and Needlefishes: the Ontogeny and Phylogeny of the Sternarchellini (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Chattanooga, Tennessee.
TEACHING AND MENTORING
2020 Comparative Vertebrate Biology. Brown University. Instructor of Record. Spring 2020
2018 Ichthyology: FW 4136/5136 University of Minnesota. Instructor of Record. Fall 2018.
2017 Immunobiology. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2016 Fish Biology, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Guest Lecture.
2015 Herpetology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2015 Macroevolutionary Processes. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2013 Science Alive. Various elementary schools, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2017 ASIH Frederick H. Stoye Award, Best student presentation $300.00
2017 University of Texas, Austin CT-scan workshop travel award $200.00
2014 Best Presentation Award, Annual Graduate Student Symposium, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana.
FIELD EXPERIENCE
2019 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids and sexually dimorphic phenotypes for transcriptomic analyses.
2017 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids and sexually dimorphic phenotypes.
2016 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids.
2016 Expedition to Darien, Panama to collect Apteronotus rostratus, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
2015 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids.
2014 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect various gymnotiform fishes.
2011 Harris Creek Project NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, May-August.
SERVICE
Postdoctoral Representative for University of Minnesota Diversity and Inclusion Committee
2017-2019
Science Fair Judge
2015-2017. Breaux Bridge Elementary School. Lafayette, Louisiana.
2015-2017. Regional Science Fair, Lafayette, Louisiana.
JOURNAL REVIEWER
2020 Integrative & Comparative Biology
2020 Functional Ecology
2020 BMC Evolutionary Biology
2019 Nature: Ecology & Evolution
2019 BMC Evolutionary Biology
2019 Integrative Organismal Biology
2018 Evolution
2018 Behavioral Ecology
2018 Copeia
2018 Proceedings of the Royal Society B
2017 Zoology
2017 Journal of Fish Biology
REFERENCES
James S. Albert (Ph. D)
Email: jalbert@louisiana.edu
Phone: (337) 482-6627
Adam P. Summers (Ph. D)
Email: fishguy@uw.edu
Phone: (310) 864-1491
Beth Brainerd (Ph. D)
Email: elizabeth_brainerd@brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-9261
Andrew M. Simons (Ph. D)
Email: asimons@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-6292
Rice University
Department of Biosciences
6100 Main St, Rice University MS-170, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: 215-490-4762
Email: Kory.Evans@rice.edu
Website: koryevans.weebly.com
EDUCATION
B.Sc. Nova Southeastern University 2013
Marine Biology
Advisor: Dr. Paul Arena
Thesis: Who's eating who? Agonism in marine fish species.
Ph.D. University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2017
Biological Sciences
Advisor: Dr. James Albert
Dissertation: Evolution of craniofacial diversity in Neotropical electric fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei).
RESEARCH SYNOPSIS
I am an evolutionary biologist broadly interested in the development, evolution and
ecology of phenotypic diversity in teleost fishes. My research integrates developmental biology, biomechanics, phylogenetic comparative methods, and ecology to understand how phenotypes develop, evolve, and interact with their respective environments across multiple time scales and how intrinsic (development) and extrinsic (environment) mechanisms influence patterns of phenotypic diversity.
POSITIONS/EMPLOYMENT
Rice University
Assistant Professor 2020-Present
Brown University 2019- 2020
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2017-2019
CFANS Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2013-2017
SREB Doctoral Fellow
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2019 Brown University Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship $126,000.00
2018 Sabes Fund for Genomics and Life Epigenetics $ 2500.00
2018 Overt TCN Small Grant $ 2500.00
2017 CFANS Postdoctoral Fellowship $ 100,000.00
2017 Friday Harbor Laboratories Wainwright Fellowship $450.00
2014 University of Louisiana Graduate Student Organization Scientific Development Grant $250.00
2013 Southern Regional Education Board Doctoral Fellowship $100,000.00
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (* denotes undergraduate co-author)
Bernt, M. J., Fronk, A. H., Evans, K. M., & Albert, J. S. 2020. A redescription of deep-channel ghost knifefish, Sternarchogiton preto (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae), with assignment to a new genus. Neotropical Ichthyology, 18(1).
Evans, K., Kim, L., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2019. Ecomorphology of Neotropical electric fishes: an integrative approach to testing the relationships between form, function and trophic ecology. Integrative Organismal Biology: doi:10.1093/iob/obz015.
Evans, K., Williams, K., Westneat, M. 2019. Do Coral Reefs Promote Morphological Diversification? Exploration of Habitat Effects on Labrid Pharyngeal Jaw Evolution in the Era of Big Data. Integrative and Comparative Biology: doi: 10.1093/icb/icz026.
Evans, K., Vidal-Garcia, M., Tagliacollo, V., *Taylor, S., Fenolio, D. 2019. Bony Patchwork: Mosaic Patterns of Evolution in the Skull of Electric Fishes (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes). Integrative and Comparative Biology: https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icz026.
Evans, K., Kolmann, M., Bernt, M., Ford, K., Albert, J. 2018. Why the long face? Static allometry in the sexually dimorphic phenotypes of Neotropical electric fishes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society: doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly076.
Kolmann, M., *Huie, J., Evans, K., Summers, A. 2018. Specialized specialists and the narrow niche fallacy: a tale of scale-feeding fishes. Royal Society Open Science: 5: 171581, doi: 10.1098/rsos.171581.
Evans, K., Savage, A., Albert, J. 2018. Spinal abnormalities in a specimen of the Panamanian Knifefish Apteronotus rostratus (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei) with comments on gymnotiform locomotion. Copeia 106:130-134, doi: 10.1643/CI-17-598.
Evans, K., Crampton, W., Albert, J. 2017. Taxonomic revision of the deep-channel electric fish genus Sternarchella (Eigenmann and Ward, 1905) (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes: Teleostei), with descriptions of two new species. Neotropical Ichthyology, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160168.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2017. Why the Short Face? Developmental Disintegration between Face and Braincase Regions Drives Convergent Evolution in Neotropical Electric Fishes. Ecology & Evolution 7: 1783-1801, doi: 10.1002/ece3.2704.
Evans, K., Waltz, B. Tagliacollo, V., Sidlauskas, B., Albert, J. 2017. Fluctuations in Evolutionary Integration Allow for Big Brains and Disparate Faces. Scientific Reports: 40431, doi: 10.1038/srep40431.
BOOK CHAPTERS
Evans, K., Albert, J. 2017. Field Guide to South American Freshwater Fishes: Hypopomidae.
INVITED TALKS & SYMPOSIA
Evans, K., Sperstad, ZE., Westneat, M. 2019. Evolutionary Convergence and Constraints on the Skull Shape of Burrowing Wrasses. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Prague.
Evans, K., Taylor, S., Fenolio, D. 2019. Bony Patchwork: Mosaic Patterns of Evolution in the Teleost Skull. “Multifunctional structures and multistructural functions: Functional coupling and integration in the evolution of biomechanical systems.” Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Evans, K., Williams, K., Westneat, M. 2019. Do coral reefs act as a crucible for morphological innovation? A critical reappraisal of the effect of coral reef habitats on the evolution of morphological diversity in wrasses in the era of big data. “Comparative Evolutionary Morphology and Biomechanics in the Era of Big Data.”
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. Natural History Museum in London
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. George Washington University
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. Brown University
Evans, K. 2018. The mighty mandible: Mosaic evolution facilitates trophic specialization in electric fish skulls. University of Washington.
Evans, K. 2018. Surfaces of Selection and Constraint: A Skull Story. University of Michigan.
Evans, K. 2017. The utility of rapid prototyping to morphological and natural history studies. Carl Gans Natural History-Engines of Inspiration. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2017. Developmental bias facilitates trophic diversification in Amazonian electric fishes. St. Cloud State University.
PRESENTATIONS
Evans, K., Sperstad, ZE., Westneat, M. 2019. Evolutionary Convergence and Constraints on the Skull Shape of Burrowing Wrasses. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, TX.
Evans, K., Kim, L., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2018. The mighty mandible: Mosaic evolution facilitates trophic specialization in electric fish skulls. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Rochester, NY
Evans, K., Schubert, B., Albert, J. 2017. Developmental bias facilitates trophic diversification in Amazonian electric fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Albert, J. 2017. Why the Long Face? Sexual Dimorphism in Neotropical Electric-Fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). Society of Systematic Biologists, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert. J. 2017. Modularity begets brachycephaly: Repeated patterns of neurocranial evolution in Neotropical electric fishes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2016. Modularity begets brachycephaly: Repeated patterns of neurocranial evolution in Neotropical electric fishes. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, Louisiana.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Sidlauskas, B., Albert, J. 2016. Evolutionary Modularity allows for Big Brains and Strange Faces. Society for the Study of Evolution. Austin, Texas.
Evans, K., Waltz, B., Tagliacollo, V., Chakrabarty, P., Albert, J. 2015. Heterocephaly: Evolution of the vertebrate skull along the lines of lines of least developmental resistance. Society for the Study of Evolution. Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil.
Evans, K. 2014. Evolution of Neurocranial Morphology Along Lines of Least Developmental Resistance in Neotropical Electric-Fishes (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). Annual Graduate Student Symposium, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, Louisiana.
Evans, K. 2014. On Knives and Needlefishes: the Ontogeny and Phylogeny of the Sternarchellini (Gymnotiformes: Teleostei). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Chattanooga, Tennessee.
TEACHING AND MENTORING
2020 Comparative Vertebrate Biology. Brown University. Instructor of Record. Spring 2020
2018 Ichthyology: FW 4136/5136 University of Minnesota. Instructor of Record. Fall 2018.
2017 Immunobiology. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2016 Fish Biology, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Guest Lecture.
2015 Herpetology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2015 Macroevolutionary Processes. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Guest Lecture.
2013 Science Alive. Various elementary schools, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2017 ASIH Frederick H. Stoye Award, Best student presentation $300.00
2017 University of Texas, Austin CT-scan workshop travel award $200.00
2014 Best Presentation Award, Annual Graduate Student Symposium, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana.
FIELD EXPERIENCE
2019 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids and sexually dimorphic phenotypes for transcriptomic analyses.
2017 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids and sexually dimorphic phenotypes.
2016 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids.
2016 Expedition to Darien, Panama to collect Apteronotus rostratus, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
2015 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect deep-channel apteronotids.
2014 Expedition to Iquitos, Peru to collect various gymnotiform fishes.
2011 Harris Creek Project NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, May-August.
SERVICE
Postdoctoral Representative for University of Minnesota Diversity and Inclusion Committee
2017-2019
Science Fair Judge
2015-2017. Breaux Bridge Elementary School. Lafayette, Louisiana.
2015-2017. Regional Science Fair, Lafayette, Louisiana.
JOURNAL REVIEWER
2020 Integrative & Comparative Biology
2020 Functional Ecology
2020 BMC Evolutionary Biology
2019 Nature: Ecology & Evolution
2019 BMC Evolutionary Biology
2019 Integrative Organismal Biology
2018 Evolution
2018 Behavioral Ecology
2018 Copeia
2018 Proceedings of the Royal Society B
2017 Zoology
2017 Journal of Fish Biology
REFERENCES
James S. Albert (Ph. D)
Email: jalbert@louisiana.edu
Phone: (337) 482-6627
Adam P. Summers (Ph. D)
Email: fishguy@uw.edu
Phone: (310) 864-1491
Beth Brainerd (Ph. D)
Email: elizabeth_brainerd@brown.edu
Phone: (401) 863-9261
Andrew M. Simons (Ph. D)
Email: asimons@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-6292
