Biography

Courses:
Introduction to Evolution & Scientific Inquiry
Herpetology (Biology of Reptiles & Amphibians)
Ichthyology (Biology of Fishes)
Mammalogy
Advanced Evolution

Education:
PhD (Ecology & Evolutionary Biology), University of Colorado at Boulder
MS (Biology), San Diego State University
BS (Biology/Psychology), California State University-East Bay

Research Expertise:
Animal Behavior | Evolution  predator-prey interactions |

My interests center on the evolution and function of feeding and prey-handling behaviors,  as well as chemical communication and mating behavior of vertebrates. My studies on these topics have centered on the behavior of lizards, snakes and fishes. I am also interested in the repeatability of behavior relating to the construction of structures that function as an extended pheontypes, such as bubble nests built by fishes. In addition, my group also works on the population dynamics of introduced Italian Wall Lizards in Mount Laurel, New Jersey in partnership with zoologists from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 

Member of:

Animal Behavior Society
Society for the Study of Reptiles & Amphibians
Society for the Study of Evolution

Recent Publications:

Bealor, M.T., Miller, J.L., de Queiroz, A. and D.A. Chiszar. 2013. The evolution of the stimulus control of constricting behaviour: inferences from North American Gartersnakes (Thamnophis). Behaviour 150: 225-253.

Saviola, A.J., Chiszar, D., Bealor, M.T. and H.M. Smith. 2010. Response of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) to chemical cues of mice (Mus musculus) of different genders and reproductive status. Psychological Record 60: 217-225.

Bealor, M.T. and A.J. Saviola. 2007. Behavioural complexity and prey-handling ability in snakes: gauging the benefits of constriction. Behaviour 144: 907-929.

Flores-McClure, M.L., L.A. Hohsfield, G. Fonte, M.T. Bealor, and C.D. Link. 2007. Decreased insulin receptor signaling promotes the autophagic degradation of β-Amyloid peptide in    C. elegans. Autophagy 3: 569-580.

Bealor, M.T. and C.O. Krekorian. 2006. Chemosensory response of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) to skin lipids from a lizard-eating snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae). Ethology 112: 503-509.
Bealor, M.T. and C.O. Krekorian. 2002. Chemosensory identification of lizard-eating snakes by desert iguanas, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Squamata:  Iguanidae). Journal of Herpetology 36: 9-15.

Bealor, M. T. and G.M. Burghardt. 2002. Natural History Notes. Incidental ingestion of plant material in the black racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor. Herpetological Review 33: 210.