RICHARD R. TOKARZ
Associate Professor
The general goal of my research is to understand the causal mechanisms and
functional outcomes of various aspects of male and female reproductive
behaviors. I use anole lizards as research subjects because they have
highly stereotyped reproductive behaviors that can be easily studied in
both the field and laboratory.
I have used the brown anole, Anolis sagrei, in most of my studies. I have
used this species to investigate the effects of adrenal and gonadal
hormones on male aggressive and sexual behaviors, the possible role of
behavioral interference in inter-specific competition, and the mechanism
and adaptive significance of male alternation of hemipenis use.
More recently I have tested whether females exhibit mate choice, whether
sperm competition is present, and whether the display of the male's throat
fan or dewlap affects male mating success and the outcome of male-male
aggressive interactions.
Education:
- B.S., University of New Mexico, 1966
- M.S., University of New Mexico, 1968
- Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1977
Postdoctoral Work:
- Vanderbilt University, 1977-1978
- Harvard University, 1978-1981
Fields:
- Behavior, endocrinology; and reproductive biology.
Recent Representative Publications:
- Tokarz, R. R. (2002). An experimental test of the importance of the
dewlap in male mating success in the lizard Anolis sagrei.
Herpetologica 58:87-94.
- Tokarz, R. R., McMann, S., Smith, L. C., and John-Alder, H. (2002).
Effects of testosterone and season on the frequency of dewlap extensions
during male-male interactions in the lizard Anolis sagrei. Hormones
and Behavior 41:70-79.
- Tokarz, R. R. (1999). Relationship between copulation duration and sperm transfer in the lizard Anolis sagrei. Herpetologica 55:234-241.
- Tokarz, R. R. (1998). Mating pattern in the lizard Anolis sagrei: implications for mate choice and sperm competition. Herpetologica 54:388-394.
- Tokarz, R. R., McMann, S., Seitz, L., and John-Alder, H. (1998). Plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels during the annual reproductive cycle of male brown anoles (Anolis sagrei). Physiological Zoology 71:139-146.
- Tokarz, R. R. (1995). Importance of androgens in male territorial acquisition in the lizard Anolis sagrei: an experimental test. Animal Behaviour 49:661-669.
- Tokarz, R. R. (1995). Mate choice in lizards: a review. Herpetological Monographs 9:17:40.