Karen Warkentin

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Current Research

Most of the research in the Warkentin lab examines developing organisms in ecological and evolutionary context. We focus on hatching as a critical life history transition, working with embryos that adaptively alter when they exit the egg capsule in response to cues of risk and opportunity. We integrate approaches from behavior, ecology, physiology, and developmental and evolutionary biology to better understand embryos, and use embryos to address general questions in animal behavior. We combine biology and mechanical engineering to design devices enabling new kinds of experiments in embryo behavior.

We work in the Neotropics on red-eyed treefrogs, hourglass treefrogs, and glassfrogs –representing three lineages of frogs that independently evolved arboreal eggs and retained aquatic tadpoles – and on foam-nesting frogs that vary in the terrestriality of their eggs. Our work addresses ecology, evolution, and mechanisms of plasticity, interactions of embryos with predators and parents, and developmental changes in embryo behavior.

Prof. Warkentin is also working toward a better understanding of sexual diversity by synthesizing perspectives from developmental and evolutionary biology.

Selected Publications

• Warkentin K.M., Falk J.J., Casper A.M.A. (2026). Evolution, development, and the incoherence of sex: A framework for multiple sex concepts. Integrative and Comparative Biology 66:icag113.
• Eddy S.L., Falk J.J., Massa M.G., Warkentin K.M., Casper A.M.A. (2026). Teaching accurate sex-related biology: Approaches for more socially just instruction. Integrative and Comparative Biology 66:icag136.
• Guevara-Molina E.C., Salazar-Nicholls M.J., Ribeiro Gomes F., Warkentin K.M. (2025). Ontogeny of the heat-induced hatching response in the red-eyed treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A 345:172–181.
• Guevara-Molina E.C., Ribeiro Gomes F., Warkentin K.M. (2025). Heat-induced hatching: clarifying effects of hydration and heating rate on behavioral thermal tolerance of red-eyed treefrog embryos. Integrative Organismal Biology 7:obaf023
• Salazar-Nicholls M.J., Macías Bazante H., and Warkentin K.M. (2025). Functional morphology of hatching: Ontogeny and distribution of hatching gland cells in red-eyed treefrogs and a new marker for anuran hatching enzyme. Journal of Morphology 286:e70029.
• Jung J., Caldwell M.S., McDaniel J.G., and Warkentin K.M. (2025). The role of vibration amplitude in the escape-hatching response of red-eyed treefrog embryos. Integrative Organismal Biology 7:obaf012
• Lisondro-Arosemena A., Salazar-Nicholls M.J., and Warkentin K.M. (2024). Elevated ammonia cues hatching in red-eyed treefrogs: A mechanism for escape from drying eggs. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B 342:406–411.
• Güell B.A., McDaniel J.G., and Warkentin K.M. (2024). Egg-clutch biomechanics affect escape-hatching behavior and performance. Integrative Organismal Biology 6:obae006