Corey R. Freeman-Gallant
Address: Dana Science Center Department of Biology Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 580-5086 cfreeman@skidmore.edu Courses Taught: Ornithology (BI 307) Evolution (BI 324) Evolutionary Biology (BI 155) Biological Sciences I (BI 105)
Research Interests: Dr. Freeman-Gallant's research uses field and molecular techniques to explore the evolution of ecologically important traits in birds. In the field, he combines observational and experimental work with color-banded individuals to describe the selective environment shaping avian life histories. In the laboratory, he uses hypervariable genetic markers to describe patterns of gene exchange within and between populations. Current projects with Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) and Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) explore the adaptive significance of avian reproductive behavior and parenting strategies. Most recently, his work has focused on the ecology and evolution of female mating fidelity, and he is currently assessing the importance of genetic compatibility and immunocompetence to social and genetic mating patterns.
Recent Publications: Perlut NG, CR Freeman-Gallant, AM Strong, TM Donovan, CW Kilpatrick & NJ Zalik. 2008. Agricultural management affects evolutionary processes in a migratory songbird. Molecular Ecology 17: 1248-1255. Wheelwright NT, MB Swett, II Levin, DE Kroodsma, CR Freeman-Gallant & H Williams. 2008. The influence of different tutor types on song learning in a natural bird population. Animal Behaviour. In press. Dunn PO, LA Whittingham, CR Freeman-Gallant & J DeCoste. 2008. Geographic variation in the function of ornaments in the common yellowthroat. Journal of Avian Biology 39: 66-72. Freeman-Gallant CR, NT Wheelwright, KE Meiklejohn & SV Sollecito. 2006. Genetic similarity, extra-pair paternity, and offspring quality in Savannah sparrows. Behavioral Ecology 17: 952-958. Mitchell DP, PO Dunn, LA Whittingham & CR Freeman-Gallant. 2006. Attractive males provide less parental care in two populations of the common yellowthroat. Animal Behaviour 73: 165-170. Wheelwright NT, CR Freeman-Gallant & RA Mauck. 2006. Asymmetrical incest avoidance in the choice of social and genetic mates. Animal Behaviour 71: 631-639. Freeman-Gallant CR, NT Wheelwright, KE Meiklejohn, SL States & SV Sollecito. 2005. Little effect of extra-pair paternity on the opportunity for sexual selection in Savannah sparrows. Evolution 59: 422-430. Freeman-Gallant CR, M Meguerdichian, NT Wheelwright & SV Sollecito. 2003. Social pairing and female mating fidelity predicted by RFLP similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in a songbird. Molecular Ecology 12: 3077-3083. Wheelwright NT, KA Tice & CR Freeman-Gallant. 2003. Post-fledging parental care in Savannah sparrows: sex, size, and survival. Animal Behaviour 65: 435-443. Freeman-Gallant CR, EM Johnson, F Saponara & M Stanger. 2002. Variation at the major histocompatibility complex in Savannah sparrows. Molecular Ecology 11: 1125-1130. Freeman-Gallant C, KD O’Connor & ME Breuer. 2001. Sexual selection and the geography of Plasmodium infection in Savannah sparrows. Oecologia 127: 517-521 Freeman-Gallant CR& MD Rothstein. 1999. Apparent heritability of parental care in Savannah Sparrows. Auk 116: 1132-1136. Freeman-Gallant CR 1998. Fitness consequences of male parental care in Savannah sparrows. Behavioral Ecology 9: 486-492. Freeman-Gallant CR 1997. Extra-pair paternity in monogamous and polygynous Savannah sparrows. Animal Behaviour 53: 397-404. Freeman-Gallant CR 1997. Parentage and paternal care: consequences of intersexual selection in Savannah sparrows. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 40: 395-400. Freeman-Gallant CR 1996. Microgeographic patterns of genetic and morphological variation in Savannah sparrows. Evolution 50: 1631-1637. Freeman-Gallant CR 1996. DNA fingerprinting reveals female preference for male parental care in Savannah sparrows. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B: Biological Sciences 263: 157-160. Danforth BN & CR Freeman-Gallant. 1996. DNA fingerprinting data and the problem of non-independence among pairwise comparisons. Molecular Ecology 5: 221-227 *Skidmore students indicated in GREEN.