Mark Liu
Postdoctoral Fellow
Address:
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Room 500B
Harvard University
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
Tel: +1-617-496-8387
Fax: +1-617-495-5667
Email: markliu(at)fas.harvard.edu
Education:
- 2009 PhD in Biological Sciences at Auburn University, AL, United States
Research Interests:
My main research interests are
centered on the signaling function of avian plumage coloration and
female mating preferences. It has become clear that male’s gaudy
plumage coloration usually has dual functions that can signal dominance
towards male competitors and attractiveness towards females. However,
the relative importance of each always difficult to evaluate with
correlational field approaches. In my PhD work, I have used
multiple experimental approaches to investigate the signaling function
of plumage coloration in natural environments.
In addition to the functions of plumage coloration, the subject of female mating preference for male genetic quality also intriguing me. One hypothesis is that females choose mates based on genetic compatibility.. I joined Dr. Edwards’ lab in 2010. In collaboration with Drs. Geoffrey Hill (Auburn University) and Miguel Alcaide, we plan to use the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and II genes to explore female mating preferences and disease resistance in house finches. Ultimately, we hope to understand the relative importance of plumage color, genetic quality and disease in female mating preferences.
In addition to the functions of plumage coloration, the subject of female mating preference for male genetic quality also intriguing me. One hypothesis is that females choose mates based on genetic compatibility.. I joined Dr. Edwards’ lab in 2010. In collaboration with Drs. Geoffrey Hill (Auburn University) and Miguel Alcaide, we plan to use the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and II genes to explore female mating preferences and disease resistance in house finches. Ultimately, we hope to understand the relative importance of plumage color, genetic quality and disease in female mating preferences.
Publications (download by clicking pdf-icon):
1. H. W. Yuan, M Liu, and S.F. Shen 2004. Joint Nesting in Taiwan Yuhinas: a rare passerine case. Condor 106:862-872
2. Liu M., L. Siefferman, and G.E. Hill 2007. An experimental test of female choice relative to male structural coloration in eastern bluebirds. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61:623–630
3. Shawkey M.D., Kosciuch K.L., Liu M., Rowher F.C., Loos E.R., Wang J.M. And S.R. Beissinger 2008. Do birds differentially distribute antimicrobial proteins within clutches of eggs? Behavioral Ecology 19 (4): 920-927
4. Mays H.L., Albrecht T., Liu M. and G.E. Hill 2008. Female choice for genetic complementarity in birds: a review. Genetica 134 (1): 147-158
5. Liu M., Siefferman L., Mays H.L., Steffen J.E. and G.E. Hill 2009. A field test of female mate preference for plumage coloration in eastern bluebirds. Animal Behaviour 78: 879-885
6. Ligon R.A., Liu M., G.E. Hill. 2009 Adoption by a territorial passerine. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(4):830-834.
7. Hill G.E., Siefferman L., Liu M., Hassan H, Unnasch T. The effects of West Nile Virus on the reproductive success and overwinter survival of Eastern Bluebirds in Alabama Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. March 2010, 10(2): 159-163.
8. Ligon R.A., N. D. Burkett-Cadena, Liu M., G.E. Hill, H. Hassan, T. Unnasch. Short report: Assessing mosquito feeding patterns on nestling and brooding adult birds using microsatellite markers. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In press.
9. Burkett-Cadena N. D., R.A. Ligon., Liu M., Hassan H., G.E. Hill, M.D. Eubanks, T. Unnasch. Vector–Host Interactions in Avian Nests: Do Mosquitoes Prefer Nestlings over Adults? Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 83(2), 2010, pp. 395-399
2. Liu M., L. Siefferman, and G.E. Hill 2007. An experimental test of female choice relative to male structural coloration in eastern bluebirds. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61:623–630
3. Shawkey M.D., Kosciuch K.L., Liu M., Rowher F.C., Loos E.R., Wang J.M. And S.R. Beissinger 2008. Do birds differentially distribute antimicrobial proteins within clutches of eggs? Behavioral Ecology 19 (4): 920-927
4. Mays H.L., Albrecht T., Liu M. and G.E. Hill 2008. Female choice for genetic complementarity in birds: a review. Genetica 134 (1): 147-158
5. Liu M., Siefferman L., Mays H.L., Steffen J.E. and G.E. Hill 2009. A field test of female mate preference for plumage coloration in eastern bluebirds. Animal Behaviour 78: 879-885
6. Ligon R.A., Liu M., G.E. Hill. 2009 Adoption by a territorial passerine. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(4):830-834.
7. Hill G.E., Siefferman L., Liu M., Hassan H, Unnasch T. The effects of West Nile Virus on the reproductive success and overwinter survival of Eastern Bluebirds in Alabama Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. March 2010, 10(2): 159-163.
8. Ligon R.A., N. D. Burkett-Cadena, Liu M., G.E. Hill, H. Hassan, T. Unnasch. Short report: Assessing mosquito feeding patterns on nestling and brooding adult birds using microsatellite markers. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In press.
9. Burkett-Cadena N. D., R.A. Ligon., Liu M., Hassan H., G.E. Hill, M.D. Eubanks, T. Unnasch. Vector–Host Interactions in Avian Nests: Do Mosquitoes Prefer Nestlings over Adults? Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 83(2), 2010, pp. 395-399