Scott M. Lanyon
 Professor and Head
Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Bell Museum of Natural History
Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1985
Contact Information
Phone: 612-624-6291
Fax: 612-624-6777
E-mail: lanyo001@umn.edu
Graduate Faculty Memberships
Conservation Biology; Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Research Interests
Avian Systematics, Comparative Phylogenetics, Phylogenetic Methods
Statement
My research program is focused on the comparative study of behavioral and morphological evolution in birds. I am interested in hypotheses regarding the evolution of coloniality, inter- and intra-specific brood parasitism, delayed plumage maturation, sexual size dimorphism, sexual dichromatism, and vocal mimicry within this intrinsically fascinating new world family of birds. To investigate these questions I derive hypotheses of phylogenetic relationship using DNA sequence data. The resultant phylogenies allow me to test the historical component of evolutionary hypotheses as they relate to blackbirds.
Selected Publications
2009
Price, J.J., S.M. Lanyon, and K.E. Omland. Losses of female song with changes from tropical to temperate breeding in the New World blackbirds. Proc. Royal Soc B - Biol Sci. 276:1971-1980.
2008
Barker, F.K., A.J. Vandergon, and S.M. Lanyon. Species status of the Red-shouldered Blackbird: Implications for ecological, Morphological, and Behavioral Evolution. Auk 125:87-94.
Barker, F.K., A.J. Vandergon, and S.M. Lanyon. Assessment of species limits among yellow-breasted meadowlarks (Sturnella) using mitochondrial and sex-linked markers. Auk 125:869-879.
Powell, A.F.L.A., F.K. Barker and S.M. Lanyon. A complete species-level phylogeny of the grackles (Quiscalus spp.), including the extinct Slender-billed Grackle, inferred from mitochondrial DNA. Condor 110:718-728.
2004
Price, J. and S. M. Lanyon. Patterns of song evolution and sexual selection in
the oropendolas and caciques. Behavioral Ecology 15:485-497.
Price, J. and S. M. Lanyon. Song and mtDNA identify congruent but novel affinities of the Green Oropendola Auk 121:224-229.
Cadena, C.D., A.M. Cuervo, and S.M. Lanyon. Phylogenetic relationships of the Red-bellied Grackle (Icteridae: Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Condor 106:664-670 .
Lowther, P.E., R. Fraga, T.S. Schulenberg, and S.M. Lanyon. Nomenclatural solution for a polyphyletic Agelaius. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 124:171-177.
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