Lauren A. Oliver

Lauren Oliver

Assistant Professor

706-867-4556

Health and Natural Sciences, 439, Dahlonega

Area(s) of Expertise: Herpetology, Phylogenetic Systematics, Taxonomy, Biogeography, Evolutionary Biology

Courses Taught

BIOL 1101/L Biology: A Human Perspective/Lab
BIOL 1108K Principles of Biology II
BIOL 3326K Vertebrate Zoology
BIOL 4450 Evolution
BIOL 4520K Herpetology
BIOL 4700 Senior Seminar
BIOL 4312K Plant & Animal Interactions

Education

Ph.D., Comparative Biology, Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History
B.S., Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University

Research/Special Interests

Dr. Oliver is interested in elucidating patterns of herpetological biodiversity in the tropics, especially in New Guinea. For her dissertation, she used molecular, morphologic, and geographic data to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships, delineate species richness, and revise the taxonomy of Ranidae in Melanesia. Dr. Oliver is also interested in the historic processes (e.g., geologic events) that have influenced modern species diversity and ranges, and thus uses biogeographic methods to estimate timing and pacing of speciation.

Publications

L.A. Oliver, E. Prendini, F. Kraus, C. Raxworthy. 2015. Systematics and biogeography of the Hylarana frog (Anura: Ranidae) radiation across tropical Australasia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 90, 176-192.
L.A. Oliver, E.N. Rittmeyer, F. Kraus, S. Richards, C.C. Austin. 2013. Phylogeography and Phylogeny of Mantophryne (Anura: Microhylidae) reveals cryptic diversity in New Guinea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 67, 600–607.
E. Scott, J.D. Visser, C.A. Yetman, L.A. Oliver, D.G. Broadley. 2013. Revalidation of Pyxicephalus angusticeps Parry, 1982 (Anura: Pyxicephalidae), a bullfrog endemic to the lowlands of eastern Africa. Zootaxa.  3599 (3), 201-228.
C.C. Austin, E.N. Rittmeyer, L.A. Oliver, J.O. Andermann, G.R. Zug, G.H. Rodda, N. Jackson. 2011. The bioinvasion of Guam: inferring geographic origin, pace, pattern and process of an invasive lizard in the Pacific using multi-locus genomic data. Biological Invasions. 13, 1951–1967.
L.A. Oliver and E. Scott-Prendini. 2011. Breeding notes on Pyxicephalus. African Herp News. 55, 15-16.

Personal Information

Dr. Oliver grew up on the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Alabama. She loves traveling (for research and leisure), hiking, camping, kayaking, road tripping, cooking, and practicing yoga.