RESEARCH
INTERESTS
Animal
Behavior, Functional Morphology, Performance
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
August
2008 - present
|
Darwin
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Massachusetts, Organismic
and Evolutionary Biology Program, Amherst, MA
|
| Spring
2008 |
Visiting
Faculty, University of Hawaii, Zoology Department |
EDUCATION
November
2007
|
Michigan
State University, East Lansing, MI
Joint Ph.D. in Zoology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology
and Behavior |
|
May
1998
|
University
of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation |
PUBLICATIONS
Tanner,
JB, ML Zelditch, BL Lundrigan & KE Holekamp (In Press). Ontogenetic
change in skull morphology and mechanical advantage in the spotted hyena, (Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Morphology.
Watts, HE,
JB Tanner, BL Lundrigan & KE Holekamp (2009).Post-weaning
maternal effects and the evolution of female dominance in the
spotted hyena.Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276:
2291-2298
Tanner,
JB, ER Dumont, ST Sakai, BL Lundrigan & KE Holekamp
(2008). Of Arcs and Vaults:
The biomechanics of bone-cracking in spotted hyenas (Crocuta
crocuta). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
95: 246-255.pdf
Tanner,
JB, L Smale & KE Holekamp (2007). Ontogenetic variation
in the play behavior of spotted hyenas. Journal of Developmental
Processes 2(2):5-30.pdf
AWARDS
Darwin Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2010)
College of Natural Science Excellence-In-Teaching Award (2007)
Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Program Summer
Fellowship (2007)
Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research (2006)
Graduate School Travel Grant (2006)
American Society of Mammalogists Grant-in-Aid of Research (2003)
Graduate School Research Enhancement Award (2003)
RESEARCH
PRESENTATIONS
Tanner JB, ER Dumont, BL Lundrigan, ST Sakai
& KE Holekamp (2009). The role of the frontal sinus
in bone-cracking in the spotted hyena. Society for Integrative
and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
Tanner,
JB & KE Holekamp (2008). Effects of social rank
on feeding performance and
morphology in spotted hyenas. 12th Congress of the International
Society of Behavioral Ecology, Ithaca, NY.
Tanner,
JB, L Smale & KE Holekamp (2007). Ontogenetic variation
in the play behavior of the spotted hyena. 44th Annual Meeting
of the Animal Behavior Society, Burlington, VT.
Tanner,
JB, L Smale, KE Holekamp (2007). Hyenas at Play: Ontogenetic,
sex and
environmental influences. Michigan State University Brain &
Behavior Group, East Lansing, MI.
Tanner,
JB, ML Zelditch, BL Lundrigan & KE Holekamp (2007).
Ontogeny of feeding
performance and skull morphology in the spotted hyena. Society
for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting,
Phoenix, AZ.
Tanner,
JB (2006). Developmental changes in skull morphology
and corresponding changes in
feeding performance in the spotted hyena. SICB Northeast Regional
Division of Vertebrate Morphology Meeting, Providence, RI.
Tanner,
JB, BL Lundrigan & KE Holekamp (2006). Ontogenetic
Change in Skull
Morphology and Feeding Performance in the Spotted Hyena (Crocuta
crocuta). 86th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists,
Amherst, MA.
Holekamp,
KE (presenter), HE Watts, JB Tanner. Growth
and Development in Free-living Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta).
85th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists,
Missouri State University, 2005.
INVITED
SEMINARS
Tanner,
JB (2008). Behavioral and morphological development
in a female-dominated species,the spotted hyena. University
of Massachusetts, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program,
Darwin Seminar, Amherst, MA.
Tanner,
JB (2008). Developmental changes in morphology and
behavior in the spotted hyena. University of Hawaii, Zoology
Seminar, Manoa, HI.
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Lead Instructor
Evolution:
Diversity of Life Through Time (BIO 280), UMass, (with Prof.
Margery Coombs), Fall 2008
In this undergraduate course, geared towards sophomores and
juniors, we cover material ranging from evolutionary theory
to the evolutionary history of the main taxonomic groups of
organisms. My lectures cover the evolutionary theory aspects
of the course. 200 students.
Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Seminar (ORGEVBIO 697B), UMass,
Fall 2008
This seminar is composed of first year graduate students in
the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program. I cover topics
in professional development such as writing grants, giving talks,
approaches to teaching undergraduates and generating scientific
questions and hypotheses. 7 students.
Ethology,
(ZOL 306), University of Hawaii, Spring 2008.
This course had both a lecture and lab component focusing on
animal behavior from both mechanistic and evolutionary perspectives.
The lectures included in-class activities and discussions and
were geared towards juniors and seniors. 65 students.
Behavioral
Ecology of African Mammals (ZOL 490), MSU Study Abroad in Kenya,
Summer 2006.
This course was a three-week study abroad course in Kenya that
focused on behavioral ecology. The course included lectures,
field exercises, student research topics and included sophmore,
junior and senior undergraduate students. As the lead instructor
I was responsible for designing the academic program as well
as managing the logistical aspects of the program. ~18 students.
Laboratory
Instructor/Teaching Assistant
Developmental
Biology Laboratory (ZOL 320), MSU Fall 2007.
In this lab course I guided students through identifying the
development of structures in vertebrate embryos. Additionally
I taught the students how to explant chick embryos and then
trace and modify development in these embryos. ~23 students.
Behavioral
Ecology of African Mammals (ZOL 490), MSU Study Abroad in Kenya,
Summer 2004, 2005.
See description above.
The Biology
of Mammals (ZOL 365), MSU, Spring 2002, 2003, 2006.
In this taxonomic lab junior and senior students studied and
identified the skulls of mammals and learned about their lifestyles,
behaviors and habitats. ~25 students
Ecology
Laboratory (ZOL 355L), MSU, Fall 2001, 2002, 2005, Summer 2007.
In this field lab I taught students how to collect ecological
data in the field and how to design and carry out their own
research projects. ~25 students.
Wildlife
Management, The School for Field Studies in Kenya, 1999-2000.
This course was part of a semester-long study abroad program
for students from universities across the U.S. I guided students
through field exercises and advised them on individual research
projects.
Guest
Lectures
“Behavioral Ecology and Life History Traits”, Ecology
(ZOL 355), 2007.
“Tropical Grasslands: The Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem”,
Tropical Biology (ZOL 485), 2007.
“Spotted Hyenas: Research at MSU”, MSU Fisheries
& Wildlife Club, 2007.
“Order Carnivora”, The Biology of Mammals (ZOL 365),
2006.
“Behavioral Ecology of Spotted Hyenas", Introductory
Organismal Biology (BS 110), 2002.
Mentoring
I have supervised 12 undergraduate research assistants since
2002. This has included training in lab techniques, collecting
morphological measurements and working with behavioral data.
At least two of these research assistants will be included as
authors on publications.
RESEARCH
EXPERIENCE
Collected measurements from computed tomography (CT) scans of
spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) skulls and generated 3D computer
models of the skulls in order to quantify the developmental
changes in the frontal sinus and in frontal cortex size under
the supervision of Dr. Sharleen Sakai in the Psychology Department,
Michigan State University. July 2006 – September 2007.
Dissertation
research data collection which included behavioral observations,
morphological measurements and field experiments of free-living
spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Masai Mara Game Reserve
in Kenya as well as finite-element and geometric morphometric
analyses of skull specimens at Michigan State University. September
2001 – November 2007.
Data collection
on the behavioral ecology of free-living spotted hyenas (Crocuta
crocuta) which included radio-tracking, collection of behavioral
and demographic data, anaesthetizing hyenas and management of
the research camp for the Mara Hyena Project, Masai Mara Game
Reserve, Kenya. October 2000-January 2001, May 2002-July 2002,
June 2003-June 2005.
Conducted
radio-tracking, necropsies and diet analysis of local carnivore
species for the DEP Wildlife Division, Sessions Wildlife Management
Area, Burlington, CT. November 1998-May 1999.
Collected data on demography, herd movement, habitat choice
and behavior of local oryx (Oryx gazella beisa) populations
at the Center for Wildlife Management Studies, Kenya. September
1996-December 1996.
PROFESSIONAL
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
Sigma Xi
Research Society
Animal Behavior Society
American Society of Mammalogists
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
SERVICE
Reviewer
for Behaviour, Journal of Mammalogy, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Journal of Morphology
Graduate
Student Representative to Zoology Department Faculty Meetings
(MSU,Fall 2002)
PUBLIC
OUTREACH
National Geographic Channel, 2005: (Appearance)“Dangerous
Encounters: Bite Force”
National Geographic Channel, 2004: (Consultant) “Be the
Creature II: Expedition Spotted Hyena”
BBC, 2004: (Appearance) “Really Wild Show: Hide-N-Seek”
Wild Moments (NBC), 2003:(Appearance) “Spotted
Hyenas”
“Spotted
Hyenas - Dispelling the Myths" talk given to various student
groups, tourists, and local teachers in the Masai Mara Game
Reserve, Kenya, 2000-2005.
“Animal
Adaptations” presentation at the 13th Annual Math/Science
Conference for 6th grade girls (2002)
