Erin McCullough

Assistant Professor, Biology

Professor Erin McCullough is an evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist whose research aims to understand patterns of morphological and behavioral diversity. She specializes in studying the evolution of reproductive traits and uses diverse and integrated approaches to explore the evolutionary forces that give rise to biodiversity at different levels of biological organization – from proteins to structures to populations to species.

Professor McCullough teaches Animal Behavior in the Fall and Evolution in the Spring.

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Organismal Biology and Ecology, University of Montana, 2014
  • B.S. in Biology, University of Puget Sound, 2006

Affiliated Department

Biology

Scholarly and creative works

  • Article in Refereed Journal

    The prevalence of weapon damage: a proportional meta-analysis

    Published in Animal Behaviour
    2025
    Vol. 222
    Sarah M Lane, Erin L. McCullough
  • Presentations

    Evolution of reproductive traits at multiple scales: from molecules to morphologies

    Department of Biological Science seminar series
    Bronx, NY
    Janurary
    2025
    Sponsored by Fordham University
    Erin L. McCullough
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Are weapon allometries steeper in major or minor males? A meta-analysis

    Published in Behavioral Ecology
    2024
    Vol. 35
    Issue #6
    Sydney K Kochensparger, Christina J Painting, Bruno A Buzatto, Erin L McCullough
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    The life history of Drosophila sperm involves molecular continuity between male and female reproductive tracts

    Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
    2022
    Vol. 119
    Issue #11
    Erin L McCullough, Emma Whittington, Akanksha Singh, Scott Pitnick, Mariana F Wolfner, Steve Dorus
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Variation in allometry along the weapon-signal continuum

    Published in Evolutionary Ecology
    2022
    Erin L McCullough, Devin M O’Brien
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Commentary: The ecological and evolutionary implications of allometry

    Published in Evolutionary Ecology
    2022
    Vol. 36
    Issue #4
    Emma Sherratt, Erin L McCullough, Christina J Painting
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Quantitative proteomics reveals rapid divergence in the postmating response of female reproductive tracts among sibling species

    Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B
    2020
    Vol. 287
    Issue #1929
    Erin L McCullough, Caitlin E McDonough, Scott Pitnick, Steve Dorus
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Exploratory activities for understanding evolutionary relationships depicted by phylogenetic trees: United but diverse

    Published in The American biology teacher
    2020
    Vol. 82
    Issue #5
    Erin L McCullough, Lauren Verdeflor, Alaina Weinsztok, Jason R Wiles, Steve Dorus
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Cost of an elaborate trait: a trade-off between attracting females and maintaining a clean ornament

    Published in Behavioral Ecology
    2020
    Vol. 31
    Issue #5
    Erin L McCullough, Chun-Chia Chou, Patricia RY Backwell
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Staying cool: the importance of shade availability for tropical ectotherms

    Published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
    2019
    Vol. 73
    Issue #8
    C-C Chou, D M Perez, Sophie Johns, R Gardner, K A Kerr, M L Head, E L McCullough, PRY Backwell
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Population density mediates the interaction between pre-and postmating sexual selection

    Published in Evolution
    2018
    Vol. 72
    Issue #4
    Erin L McCullough, Bruno A Buzatto, Leigh W Simmons
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Benefits of polyandry: Molecular evidence from field-caught dung beetles

    Published in Molecular ecology
    2017
    Vol. 26
    Issue #13
    Erin L McCullough, Bruno A Buzatto, Leigh W Simmons
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Why sexually selected weapons are not ornaments

    Published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution
    2016
    Vol. 31
    Issue #10
    Erin L McCullough, Christine W Miller, Douglas J Emlen
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Selection on male physical performance during male–male competition and female choice

    Published in Behavioral Ecology
    2016
    Vol. 27
    Issue #5
    Erin L McCullough, Leigh W Simmons
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Variation in the allometry of exaggerated rhinoceros beetle horns

    Published in Animal Behaviour
    2015
    Vol. 109
    Erin L McCullough, Kimberly J Ledger, Devin M O’Brien, Douglas J Emlen
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Structural adaptations to diverse fighting styles in sexually selected weapons

    Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
    2014
    Vol. 111
    Issue #40
    Erin L McCullough, Bret W Tobalske, Douglas J Emlen
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Mechanical limits to maximum weapon size in a giant rhinoceros beetle

    Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
    2014
    Vol. 281
    Issue #1786
    Erin L McCullough
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Evaluating the costs of a sexually selected weapon: big horns at a small price

    Published in Animal Behaviour
    2013
    Vol. 86
    Issue #5
    Erin L McCullough, Douglas J Emlen
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Elaborate horns in a giant rhinoceros beetle incur negligible aerodynamic costs

    Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
    2013
    Vol. 280
    Issue #1758
    Erin L McCullough, Bret W Tobalske
  • Article in Refereed Journal

    Costs of elaborate weapons in a rhinoceros beetle: how difficult is it to fly with a big horn?

    Published in Behavioral Ecology
    2012
    Vol. 23
    Issue #5
    Erin L McCullough, Paul R Weingarden, Douglas J Emlen

Awards and grants

  • Sexual selection across the invaded range of an exotic dung beetle

    Clark University (Faculty Development Fund)

    clock icon May. 1, 2024 – Sep. 1, 2024