Dr. Kelly McCoy

Professor and Department Head

Office: 102R Cavness (Biology Department Office)
E-mail: Kelly.McCoy@angelo.edu
Phone: (325) 486-6646

Education:

B.S. 1990. Zoology, Oklahoma State University Ph.D. 1995. Zoology, Oklahoma State University. Dissertation: Mechanisms of selection for the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris.

Courses Taught:

Principles of Ecology, Introduction to Biometry, Biometry, Herpetology, Zoology Evolutionary Ecology, Physiological Ecology

On Campus Positions:

Curator, Herpetology Collection, Angelo State Natural History Collections

Research Interests:

My research interests are in evolutionary and behavioral ecology, especially the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Much of my research has investigated sexual selection and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris). Although my research is mainly field oriented, I am currently working on projects that involve the analysis of DNA to provide greater resolution in answering these evolutionary questions. Current projects include analysis of morphological and behavioral correlates of male reproductive success and the microphylogenetic analysis of collared lizard populations and their parasites. These studies will hopefully lead to a rigorous test of the hypothesis that parasites modify sexual selection in their hosts. Undergraduate students are actively involved in both the field and laboratory research. I am a member of the Herpetologists' League,the Southwestern Association of Naturalists, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. More information on herpetology is available on the web pages of these societies.

Publications:

Fox, S.F., J.K. McCoy, and T.A. Baird. 2003. Lizard Social Behavior. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

McCoy, J.K., T.A. Baird, and S.F. Fox. 2003. Sexual selection, social behavior, and the environmental potential for polygyny. In Lizard Social Behavior. Fox, S.F., J.K. McCoy, and T.A. Baird (eds.). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

Campbell, J.H., and J.K. McCoy. 2002. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of gene flow among six populations of collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) in west central Texas. Texas Journal of Science 54(2):151-162.

Husak, J.F., and J.K. McCoy. 2000. Diet composition of the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) in west-central Texas. Texas Journal of Science 52(2):93-100.

Baird, T.A., S.F. Fox, and J.K. McCoy. 1997. Population differences in the roles of size and coloration in intra-and intersexual selection in the collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris: influence of habitat and social organization. Behavioral Ecology, 8(5):506-517.

McCoy, J.K., H.J. Harmon, T.A. Baird, and S.F. Fox. 1997. Geographic variation in sexual dichromatism in the collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris (Sauria: Crotaphytidae). Copeia, 1997(3):565-571.

McCoy, J.K. and S.F. Fox. 1996. Is Barisia rudicollis (Sauria: Anguidae) arboreal? A morphological analysis. Southwestern Naturalist, 41(4):359-364.

McCoy, J.K., S.F. Fox, and T.A. Baird. 1994. Geographic variation in sexual dimorphism in the collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris (Sauria: Crotaphytidae). Southwestern Naturalist, 39(4):328-335.

McCoy, J.K. and S.F. Fox. 1992. A redescription of the Mexican lizard Barisia rudicollis (Weigmann) (Sauria: Anguidae). Copeia, 1992(4):1114-1117.