Dr. Steve Freedberg
Assistant Professor of Biology
Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
E-mail - freedber@stolaf.edu
Phone - 507-786-3102
Office - Regents Hall 414
Classes - Evolution and Diversity, Vertebrate Biology, Desert Biology, Principles of Bioinformatics, Equatorial Biology, Intermediate Genetics
Research Interests - My current research interests are in three main areas: sex-ratio evolution, the evolution of sex determination, and gene introgression in animals. I use molecular and field studies of freshwater turtles to address questions relating to these areas, while mathematical modeling and computational programming allow me to examine a wider range of systems and phenomena.
Recent Publications
S. Freedberg and E. M. Myers. 2012. Different rates of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA introgression in a turtle lacking sex chromosomes. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 106:405-417.
S. Freedberg, C. Lee, and M. Pappas. 2011. Agricultural practices alter sex ratios in a reptile with environmental sex determination. Biological Conservation. 144:1159-1166.
J. S. Doody, S. Freedberg, and J. S. Keogh. 2009. Communal egg-laying in reptiles and amphibians:
Evolutionary patterns and hypotheses. Quarterly Review of Biology. 84:229-252.
S. Freedberg, T. J. Greives, M. A. Ewert, G. E. Demas, N. Beecher, and C. E. Nelson. 2008. Incubation
environment affects immune system development in a turtle with environmental sex determination.
Journal of Herpetology 42:536-541.
S. Freedberg and D. R. Taylor. 2007. Sex ratio variance and the maintenance of environmental sex determination. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 20:213-220.
S. Freedberg and D. R. Bowne. 2006. Monitoring juveniles across years reveals non-Fisherian sex ratios in a reptile with environmental sex determination. Evolutionary Ecology Research. 8:1499–1510.
S. Freedberg, R. M. Bowden, M. A. Ewert, D. R. Sengelaub and C. E. Nelson. 2006. Long-term sex reversal by oestradiol in amniotes with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Biology Letters. 2:378-381.
S. Freedberg, C. E. Nelson, and M. A. Ewert. 2006. Estradiol-17β induces lasting sex reversal at male-
producing temperatures in Kinosternid turtles. Journal of Herpetology.40:95-98.
S. Freedberg, M. A. Ewert, B. J. Ridenhour, M. Neiman, and C. E. Nelson. 2005.Nesting fidelity and
molecular evidence for natal homing in the freshwater turtle, Graptemys kohnii. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences. 272:345-350.
S. Freedberg, A. Stumpf, M. A. Ewert, and C. E. Nelson. 2004. Developmental environment has long
lasting effects on behavioral performance in two turtles with environmental sex determination.
Evolutionary Ecology Research 6:739-747.
S. Freedberg and M. J. Wade. 2004. Male combat favours female-biased sex ratios under environmental
sex determination. Animal Behaviour 67:177-181.