Elizabeth Tapanes

Email:: [email protected]

Elizabeth (Liz) Tapanes interests focus on evolutionary genomics, phenotype-genotype interactions, and the evolution of hair. Specifically, she studies diademed sifaka lemurs in Madagascar.

Education

M.A., Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University

B.S., Biological Sciences, Florida International University

Year Entered GW Program: 2016

Advisor: Brenda Bradley

Publications

Journal articles

Tapanes, E., T., Anestis, S., Kamilar, J.M., & Bradley, B.J. (2020). Does hair greying in chimpanzees provide a salient progressive cue of ageing? PLOS ONE, 15(7): e0235610.

Wolovich CK, Tapanes E, Evans S. 2017. Patterns of allogrooming within male-female pairs of captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). Folia Primatologica (88): 483-496.

Tapanes E, Cords M, Detwiler KM. 2016. Predation on bats by Cercopithecus monkeys: implications for zoonotic disease transmission. EcoHealth (13): 405-409.

Jefferson JP, Tapanes E, Evans S. 2014. Owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) socially anoint in captivity. Folia Primatologica (85): 119-134.

Conference abstracts

Tapanes E, Mitchell IT, Spriggs AN, Kamilar JM, Bradley BJ. 2018. Subtle sexual dichromatism and dimorphism detected in wild Propithecus diadema. American Association of Physical Anthropologists.

Bradley BJ, Kamilar JM, Spriggs AN, Tapanes E, Wilhelm BC, Walsh S. 2017. Pigmentation in a comparative context: Factors shaping variation and convergence in primate pelage patterns. American Association of Physical Anthropologists.

Tapanes E, Detwiler KM. 2016. Phenotypic diversity and mating in Gombe National Park’s Cercopithecus hybrid zone: implications for conservation. International Journal of Parimatology.

Wolovich CK, Tapanes E, Evans S. 2016. Patterns of allogrooming in male-female pairs of captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). International Journal of Primatology.

Tapanes E, Evans S. 2015. The significance of allogrooming to pair-bonded owl monkeys (Aotus spp.). American Association of Physical Anthropologists.

Tapanes E, Detwiler KM. 2015. Testing methods for studying color objectively in wild arboreal primates. South Florida Primate Group.

Jefferson JP, Tapanes E, Evans S. 2012. Owl Monkeys (Aotus spp.) socially anoint. American Journal of Primatology.

Tapanes E, Wolovich CK, Evans S. 2007. Leaping into the night: when owl monkeys (Aotus spp.) awake. American Journal of Primatology.

Conference abstracts

Tapanes, E., Kamilar, J.M., Iwrin, M.T., Mundy, N.I., Bradley, B.J. (2020). Understanding convergent phenotypes in mammalian pelage: insights from natural primate populations. The Allied Genetics. Conference. [accepted poster] – **not presented due to COVID19**

Tapanes, E., Kamilar, J.M., & Bradley, B.J. (2019). Pigmentation changes are (sort of) related to ageingin chimpanzees. American Journal of Mammalogy. [podium]

Research Experience

2016 – present Sifaka Hair Project; in collaboration with (1) Tsinjoarivo Classified Forest, Madagascar (with Sadabe and Mitch Irwin), (2) Kirindy Mitea National Park (with Rebecca Lewis), (3) Beza Mahafaly Reserve (with Rich Lawler), (4) Ranomafana National Park (with Centre Val Bio and Pat Wright); and (5) Duke Lemur Center

2017 Visiting Researcher, Indriidae collection, The Smithsonian Natural History Museum

2016 Master’s Thesis: “Coat color variation between red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), blue monkeys (C. mitis), and hybrids (C. ascanius x C. mitis) in Gombe National Park, Tanzania”. Florida Atlantic University, Advisor: Kate M. Detwiler

2015 Visiting Researcher: Cercopithecus collection, The Field Museum of Chicago

2014 Camp Manager: Gombe Hybrid Monkey Project, Gombe Natioanl Park, Tanzania

2012 Research Assistant: Animal Locomotion laboratory, Florida International University

2006-2013 Research Assistant: Aotus spp. behavioral repertoire, DuMond Conservancy for Primates and Tropical Forests

Distinctions

2020 Scholarship, Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics, University of Washington ($900)

2019 Leakey Foundation Dissertation Research Grant, The Leakey Foundation, “Hair evolution in a comparative context” ($15,000)

2019 GW Pre-Dissertation Fellowship, The George Washington University ($4,000.00)

2018 Under-Represented Student Travel Award, American Association of Anthropological Genetics, Applied Genomics in Anthropological Research (AGAR) Workshop ($250.00)

2018 The Lewis N. Cotlow Award, The George Washington University, “Evolution of the ‘naked ape’: hair evolution in a comparative framework” ($1800.00)

2018 William Warren Graduate Fellowship, The George Washington University, “Evolution of the ‘naked ape’: hair evolution in a comparative framework” ($800.00)

2018 Explorer’s Club, Washington Group, “The how and why of diversification and innovation: a study of unusual pelage diversity in a lemur species” ($1665.00)

2017 International Primatological Society Research Grant, “Diversity of pelage patterning and function in wild sifaka lemurs (Propithecus diadema) at the Tsinjoarivo Forest in Madagascar.” ($1,500.00)

2017 The Lewis N. Cotlow Award, The George Washington University, “Diversity of pelage patterning and function in wild sifaka lemurs (Propithecus diadema) at the Tsinjoarivo Forest in Madagascar.” ($1,800.00)

2015 Graduate Research and Inquiry Program, Florida Atlantic University, “Coat color variation within and between red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), blue monkeys (C. mitis), and hybrids (C. ascanius x C. mitis)” ($480.00)

2014 Technology Fee Grant, Florida Atlantic University, “Using modern technology to monitor and study wild primate populations” ($4,840.00)

2014 Morrow Fellowship in Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University ($1,500.00)

2013 Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research, “A study of female mate-recognition in a social group of red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius), blue monkeys (C. mitis), and hybrids at Gombe National Park” ($1,000.00)