Research Profile
- | ORCID: 0000-0002-7791-4260
- Evolutionary physiologist and urban ecologist
- Studies how environmental change affects thermal tolerance and performance in ectotherms
- Combines field measurements with laboratory physiology
- Focus on urban adaptation and constraints
- Interests include phenotypic plasticity and eco-evolutionary responses to urbanization
Research Interests:
I seek to understand how environmental stressors shape physiological tolerance, plasticity, and performance.
Evolutionary physiology; thermal biology; urban ecology; phenotypic plasticity; local adaptation; climate-relevant physiology; ectotherm performance
Methods: Thermal tolerance assays (CTmax, CTmin); thermal preference trials; operative temperature measurements; urban–rural gradient design; mixed-effects models; nonparametric statistics; R
PhD, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
Expected 2026
BSc, Biology (Minor: Chemistry)
University of the Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
AA, Biology (Minor: Chemistry)
Bahamas Baptist Community College, Nassau, Bahamas
Carlen, E.J., Caizergues, E.J., Caizergues, A.E., Jagiello, Z., Kuzyo, H., Munshi-South, J., Alberti, M., Angeoletto, F., Bonilla-Bedoya, S., Booth, W., Charmantier, A., Cocciardi, J.M., Cook, E.M., Gotanda, K.M., Govaert, L., Johnson, L.E., Li, D., Malesis, A.N., Martin, E., Marzluff, J.M., Mazurek, M., Miles, L.S., Phifer-Rixey, M., Salazar-Valenzuela, D., Savage, A., Snyder, R., Stadnicki, I., Vergeles, Y., Verrelli, B.C., Villar, D.A., Wilhelm-Solomon, M., Willmott, M., Winchell, K.M., Yates, S.S., Zhou, Y., Garroway, C.J., & Szulkin, M. (2025). Legacy effects of religion, politics and war on urban evolutionary biology. Nature Cities, 2, 593–602.
Johnson, S., & Yates, S.S. (2020). First records of the North American Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) on New Providence, The Bahamas. IRCF Journal, 257–258.
Herrmann, N.C., Yates, S.S., Fredette, J.R., Leavens, M.K., Moretti, R., & Reynolds, R.G. (2018). Lizards on islands within islands: Microhabitat use, movement, and cannibalism in Anolis sagrei and Anolis smaragdinus. Caribbean Naturalist, 50, 1–17.
Stonko, D.C., Rolle, L.E., Smith, L.S., Scarselletta, A.L., Christhilf, J.L., Rowley, M.G., Yates, S.S., Cant-Woodside, S., Brace, L., Johnson, S.B., & Omland, K.E. (2018). New documentation of pine forest nesting by the critically endangered Bahama Oriole (Icterus northropi). Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 31, 1–5.
Johnson, S., Loring, P., Jones, D., & Yates, S.S. (2018). Atypical foraging habitat use by Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) in The Bahamas. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 31, 65–67.
Yates, S.S. & Gunderson, A.R. Diurnal and Seasonal Effects on Thermal Tolerance in Anolis carolinensis.
Yates, S.S. & Gunderson, A.R. Parallel assessment for urban thermal adaptation in the green anole Anolis carolinensis: a replicated study
Yates, S.S., Wang, W., & Gunderson, A.R. Testing for Divergence in Thermal Tolerance Traits in the urban-rural gradient in Anolis carolinensis in New Orleans.
Research Experience
Urban–Rural Thermal Physiology in Anolis carolinensis
New Orleans, LA | 2023–present
– Designed replicated urban–rural gradient studies across southern U.S. cities
– Conducted CTmax, CTmin, and thermal preference assays
– Integrated operative temperature data with laboratory physiology
– Analyzed trait divergence and plasticity using mixed-effects models in R
Convergence of Urban Adaptive Responses in Anolis
Kingston, Jamaica | 2019
– Captured and marked lizards using injectable elastomer
– Assisted with X-ray imaging, toe pad scans, dewlap photography, and spectrophotometry
– Collected fine-scale habitat and ecological data
Sympatric Speciation in Anolis
Long Island, Bahamas | 2016
– Assisted with capture, marking, and morphological data collection in remote field settings
Additional Field Research (Selected)
– Cyclura iguana conservation and PIT tagging, Exuma Cays & Andros, Bahamas
– Bahamas Oriole (Icterus northropi) mist-netting and genetic sampling
– Bahamas Swallow project: forest surveys, mist-netting, and DNA sampling
Grants, Fellowships, & Awards (Selected)
SICB Grant-in-Aid of Research (GIAR), $1,000 (2024)
Tulane EEB Student Research Grant, $1,500 (2024); $800 (2025)
Sigma Xi Interdisciplinary Research Award, $375 (2024)
Huey Award Nominee, SICB Division of Ecology & Evolution (2025)
GSSA/OGPS Travel Awards, Tulane University (2021, 2023, 2025, 2026)
CELT Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research Grants (multiple awards, 2024, 2025)
Presentations
Repeatability and Correlation Among Thermal Traits in the Lizard Anolis sagrei Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science (BWEEMS), Miami, FL USA 2023 Shannan S. Yates* and Alex R. Gunderson
Is it too cold? Investigating evolutionary change in cold tolerance of two Anolis species The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), Austin, TX USA 2023 Shannan S. Yates* and Alex R. Gunderson,Wayne’ Wen-Yeu’ Wang
Repeatability and Correlation Among Thermal Traits in the Lizard Anolis sagrei The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), Phoenix, AZ USA 2022 Shannan S. Yates* and Alex R. Gunderson
Ecology and population of the Ameiva auberi bilateralis and Ameiva auberi thoracica in Bahamas Oral Presentation, 3rd Bahamas National History Conference, Nassau, Bahamas; 2016 Shannan S. Yates.Size and fecundity in the toad Rhinella marina Oral Presentation, 2nd Bahamas National History Conference, Nassau, Bahamas, 2014
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant, Diversity of Life
Tulane University | 2020–present
Led undergraduate laboratory sections and graded coursework
Designed assessments and facilitated active-learning exercises
Teach lab section, leading weekly lab material, marking and assigning grades
Mark assignments and test Create weekly assessment test.
Professional Work Experience
- Feb 2018- Jul 2020 Assistant Retreat Curator at Bahamas National Trust Retreat Garden New Providence Island, Bahamas. Manage the horticulture program, accessions, and palm collections for the Garden, with a focus on propagating native Palms and developing nursery stocks. Coordinate with Science & Policy Department to facilitate research and outreach. Manage grounds staff, interns and volunteers, and oversee the execution of work plans.
- July-Aug 2015; Oct 2016-Aug 2017 Resident Intern at Forfar Field Station International Field Studies, Inc. Andros Island, Bahamas, Supervisors: Kate Hammond and Elizabeth Richardson
- Facilitated remote field study courses and research resources for educators. PADI SCUBA diving program.
- Organized and taught ornithology, island botany and biology, and herpetology field studies.
- Co-instructed sailing program from Andros Island to Berry Islands in The Bahamas (lead snorkel trips and mentor students)
- Assisted with field research (Bahamian Land Crab Project, Andros Island)
- Performed general grounds-keeping and maintenance duties including watercraft operation and maintenance and off-road vehicle operation.
Service & Leadership- President, Tulane Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association (2022–2023)
- Treasurer; Tulane Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association (2020–2022)
- Tulane GSSA Representative, (2023–2025)
- Graduate Council Representative, GAPSA (2024–2025)
- Science Fair Judge (GNOSEF); Guest Scientist, Skype a Scientist
- Skills & Certifications
- R (data visualization, mixed-effects models, nonparametric tests)
- Arc GIS
- Field physiological assays (thermal tolerance, thermal preference)
- Wildlife capture, marking, PIT tagging, elastomer tagging
- Remote field logistics; small boat and off-road vehicle operation
- PADI Rescue Diver (certified)
- NOLS Wilderness First Aid
- Fluent in Bahamian Creole and Jamaican Patois
Shannan S. Yates 