Profile
Educational Background
B.S., Biology, Emporia State University, 1981
M.S., Biology, Emporia State University, 1984
Ph.D., Biology, University of Missouri, 1991
Profile/About Me
Dr. Ptacek is a Professor in Biological Sciences and an evolutionary biologist. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri and was a postdoctoral associate at the Florida State University. She has worked in the department since 2001.
Research Interests
Dr Ptacek studies the evolution of mating signals and locally adaptive traits in a variety of fish species to better understand the mechanisms of divergence and speciation.
Courses Taught
Evolutionary Biology (BIOL 3350)
Honors Evolutionary Biology (BIOL H3350)
Understanding Genetics and Evolution (BIOL 8430)
Selected Publications
Booker, W.W., Lemmon, E.M., Lemmon, A.R., Ptacek, M.B., Hassinger, A.T.B., Schul, J. and Gerhardt, H.C. In Press. The complex history of genome duplication and hybridization in North American gray treefrogs. Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Lange, E.C., Ptacek, M.B., Travis, J., and Hughes, K.A. 2021. Sex differences in the plasticity of life history in response to social environment. Evolution. DOI: 10.1111/evo.14186
Moody, K.N., Wren, J.L.K., Kobayashi, D.R., Blum, M.J., Ptacek, M.B., Blob, R.W., Toonen, R.J., Schoenfuss, H.L., and Childress, M.J. 2019. Evidence of local adaptation in a Hawaiian waterfall-climbing goby fish derived from biophysical modeling of larval dispersal and post-settlement selection. BMC Evolutionary Biology
Memberships
Society for the Study of Evolution
Animal Behavior Society
Honors and Awards
2018 Outstanding Women Faculty Award, Clemson University Commission on Women
Outreach
Dr. Ptacek is involved in K-12 Science Teacher training in evolution and genetics.
