Corey R. Freeman-Gallant Associate Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Biology
Address: Office of Academic Advising Starbuck Center ~ and ~ Department of Biology Dana Science Center Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 (518) 580-5720 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 include a long-term study of sexually antagonistic selection on plumage traits in common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) and an investigation of the linkage between cell-level processes (oxidative stress, telomere dynamics) and patterns of sexual selection on carotenoid-based ornaments in birds.
Recent Publications: Bollmer JL, PO Dunn, CR Freeman-Gallant & LA Whittingham (2012) Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B: Biological Sciences (in press). Dunn PO, JL Bollmer, CR Freeman-Gallant & LA Whittingham (2012) MHC variation is related to a sexually selected ornament, survival, and parasite resistance in common yellowthroats. Evolution (in press). Taff CC, D Steinberger, C Clark, K Belinsky, H Sacks, CR Freeman-Gallant, PO Dunn & LA Whittingham (2012) Multi-modal sexual selection in a warbler: plumage and song are related to different fitness components. Animal Behaviour In press. Taff CC, KA Littrell & CR Freeman-Gallant (2012) Female song in the common yellowthroat. Wilson Bulletin 124: 370-374. Mitchell GW, CG Guglielmo, NT Wheelwright, CR Freeman-Gallant & DR Norris (2011) Early life events carry over to influence pre-migratory condition in a free-living songbird. PLoS ONE 6: e28838. Freeman-Gallant CR, J Amidon, B Berdy, S Wein, CC Taff & MF Haussmann (2011) Oxidative damage to DNA related to survivorship and carotenoid-based sexual ornamentation in the common yellowthroat. Biology Letters 7: 364-367. Taff CC, CR Freeman-Gallant, PO Dunn & LA Whittingham (2011) Relationship between brood sex ratio and male ornaments depends on male age in a warbler. Animal Behaviour 81: 619-625. Freeman-Gallant CR, CC Taff, DF Morin, PO Dunn, LA Whittingham & SM Tsang. 2010. Sexual selection, multiple male ornaments, and age- and condition-dependent signaling in the common yellowthroat. Evolution 64: 1007-1017. Dunn PO, JC Garvin, LA Whittingham, CR Freeman-Gallant & D Hasselquist. 2009. Carotenoid and melanin-based ornaments signal similar aspects of male quality in two populations of the common yellowthroat. Functional Ecology 24: 149-158. Butler MW, JC Garvin, NT Wheelwright & CR Freeman-Gallant. 2009. Ambient temperature, but not paternity, is associated with immune response in Savannah Sparrows. Auk 126: 536-542. 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 75: 1479-1493. 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 *Former students indicated in GREEN.