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Kevin McGraw

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School of Life Sciences
Professor; Associate Director, Facilities
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Instructor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4501
Biography: 

Kevin McGraw is an integrative behavioral ecologist who primarily studies the colors of animals such as birds to understand the costs, benefits and evolution of visual signals. He and his students use a variety of approaches from fields including biochemistry, nutrition, physiology, immunology and endocrinology to determine what factors control color intensity. They couple these approaches with behavioral, ecological and evolutionary studies, both in the field and the lab, to evaluate how and why animal colors function in visual communication.

Professor McGraw and his team's interests continue to expand to include diverse avian groups (e.g. penguins, hummingbirds, parrots) and other colorful creatures such as spiders, lizards, and butterflies. Their studies of colors and pigments span all of Tinbergen’s levels of analysis, including adaptive, developmental, and evolutionary aspects.

Fax: 
480-965-6899
CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education: 
  • Postdoctoral associate, Animal Science, University of California-Davis 2004
  • PhD Behavioral Biology, Cornell University 2003
  • MS Zoology & Wildlife, Auburn University 1999
Images
Kevin McGraw at Night of the Open Door
Videos
Research Website URL: 
http://mcgrawlabasu.wordpress.com
Google Scholar URL: 
Google Scholar Profile
Research Interests: 

behavioral ecology, animal coloration, sexual selection, ecophysiology, urban ecology

Research Group: 

Dr. Mathieu Giraudeau, post-doctoral associate (http://giraudeaumathieu.wixsite.com/site-2015)

Dr. Tuul Sepp, post-doctoral associate (https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuul_Sepp)

Melinda Weaver, PhD candidate (https://sols.asu.edu/people/melinda-weaver)

Richard Simpson, PhD candidate (https://rksimpson9.wordpress.com/)

Pierce Hutton, PhD student (http://piercehutton5.wixsite.com/phbehecol)

Emily Webb, PhD student

Publications: 

Notable Recent Publications (for full list, see https://mcgrawlabasu.wordpress.com/publications/)

1. Ligon, R. A., R. K. Simpson, N. A. Mason, G. E. Hill, and K. J. McGraw. 2016. Evolutionary innovation and diversification of carotenoid-based pigmentation in finches. Evolution 70:2839-2852.

2. Hutton, P., and K. J. McGraw. 2016. Urban impacts on oxidative balance and animal signals. Front. Ecol. Evol. 4: doi: 10.3389/fevo.2016.00054.

3. Hutton, P., Seymoure, B. M., McGraw, K. J., Ligon, R. A., and Simpson, R. K. 2015. Dynamic color communication. Current Opin. Behav. Sci. 6:41-49.

4. Giraudeau, M., Chavez, A., Toomey, M. B., and McGraw, K. J. 2015. Effects of carotenoid supplementation and oxidative challenges on physiological parameters and carotenoid-based coloration in an urbanization context. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 69:957-970.

5. Thomas, D. B., McGraw, K. J., Butler, M. W., Carrano, M. T., Madden, O., and James, H. F. 2014. Ancient origins and multiple appearances of carotenoid-pigmented feathers in birds. Proc. R. Soc. B 282:20140806.

Research Activity: 
  • LTER: CAP IV: Design with Nature: A Framework for Exploring Urban Ecology and Sustainability. NSF-BIO-DEB (12/01/2016-11/30/2019). Collaborative proposal (D. Childers, PI).
  • DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Evolution of Hummingbird Coloration and Courtship Displays (04/01/2017-03/31/2019) - with Richard Simpson.
  • Assessing urban impacts on wildlife using the pace-of-life framework. (7/1/2016 - 6/30/2018) - with Dr. Tuul Sepp.
  • Understanding the Diversity in Hummingbird Coloration and Courtship Displays. T & E (1/1/2016 - 12/31/2016) - with Richard Simpson.
  • Evolution of Phenotypic Plasticity in an Emerging Pathogen. UNIVERISTY OF EXETER (7/1/2015 - 12/15/2016) - with Dr. Mathieu Giraudeau
  • DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Function and Evolution of Rapid Color Change as a Social Signal. NSF-BIO-IOS (8/1/2014 - 7/31/2016) - with Dr. Rusty Ligon
  • Investigating the effects of the Fukushima radiation disaster on frogs and birds. Lab de Radioecologie et d'Eco (3/1/2013 - 2/28/2014) - with Drs. Mathieu Giraudeau and Pierre Deviche
  • Nutri-Finch Testing a Oil-based antioxidant remedy for emerging infectious avian pathogens and immune booster (9/24/2012 - 12/31/2013).
  • Fukushima Radiation Disaster Zone Bird Research Project. Lab de Radioecologie et d'Eco (2/1/2012 - 12/31/2012) - with Drs. Mathieu Giraudeau and Pierre Deviche
  • Effect of a mosaic black-and-white contrasting background on seed color preferences in house finches. Central Avian (6/1/2011 - 9/1/2012).
  • Seasonal Effects of Supplemental Dietary Lutein and Vitamin E on Health State and Oxidative Stress Susceptibility in House Finches (carpodacus mexican. Central Avian (3/17/2011 - 3/16/2012).
  • An Experimental Test of the Effect of Seed-Color-Contrast on Food Preferences of House Finches. Central Avian (5/1/2010 - 8/10/2010).
  • Condition-dependent Signal Reception: Limitations and Functions of Carotenoids in Avian Color Vision. NSF-BIO-IOS(8/15/2009 - 7/31/2013).
  • DISSERTATION RESEARCH: What you see is what you get: behavioral implications of retinal carotenoid accumulation. NSF-BIO-IOS(6/15/2009 - 11/30/2011) - with Dr. Matthew Toomey
  • The Molecular Costs of Being Sexually Attractive: A Quantatative Assessment of Carotenoid Limitations for Coloration and Self_Maintenance. NSF-BIO-IOS(4/1/2008 - 3/31/2012).
Spring 2021
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 370Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
ANB 602Current Issues In Behavior
Summer 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 331Animal Behavior
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 370Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Summer 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 331Animal Behavior
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 370Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Summer 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 331Animal Behavior
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
ANB 790Reading and Conference
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 370Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
Summer 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 331Animal Behavior
ANB 790Reading and Conference
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 289SOLUR Apprentice
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 370Vertebrate Zoology
BIO 389SOLUR Researcher
BIO 489SOLUR Fellow
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 493Honors Thesis
BIO 494Special Topics
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 189Life Sciences Career Paths
BIO 289SOLUR Apprentice
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 389SOLUR Researcher
BIO 489SOLUR Fellow
BIO 492Honors Directed Study
BIO 494Special Topics
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
ANB 602Current Issues In Behavior
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
BIO 310Special Problems & Techniques
BIO 331Animal Behavior
ANB 590Reading and Conference
ANB 790Reading and Conference
Presentations: 

See CV (https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/742963/cv) for full list of invited, conference, and university presentations.

Service: 

See CV (https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/742963/cv) for full list of service activities

Expertise Areas: 
Ornithology
Behavior
Ecology
Urban Ecology
Zoology
Ecophysiology