Beth A. Reinke
Biology
Associate Professor
Office:
Room BBH 352F
Phone:
(773) 442-5727
Email:
e-reinke@neiu.edu
Office Hours:
Please email e-reinke@neiu.edu to arrange to meet or speak with Dr. Reinke.
CV:
Reinke, B_CV.pdf
Country:
United States
Expertise
Organismal biology
Evolution
Pigment physiology
Senescence
Science communication
General Biology II (BIO 202)
Design in Nature (BIO 302/ART 302)
Science Communication (BIO 315)
Ornithology (BIO 324)
Local Fauna (BIO 325)
Animal Behavior (BIO 415)
Research Interests
My research interests center around the evolution of animal coloration and the impact of color on animal physiology and senescence. My lab addresses questions like "What is the function of coloration?", "What are the non-signaling roles of pigments?" and "What explains the diversity of color in a particular animal group?" I also am an advocate for long-term field research projects, science communication, and combing art and science. Keywords: coloration, evolutionary ecology, pigments, senescence, scicomm
Education
Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Dartmouth College
B.A. in Zoology from Indiana University Bloomington
Selected Publications
Undergraduate students are underlined.
Ortenzi, L., C. Costa, B. A. Reinke, and C. Angelini. 2025. Using deep learning to distinguish cryptic traits in animal colour patterns. Journal of Zoology. (Early View)
Jaimes, G., E. T. Maki, and B. A. Reinke. 2025. Assessing the impact of environment on the color of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) in the wild. Ecology and Evolution, 15(7): e71702.
Stasiek, J., and B. A. Reinke. 2025. Coloration is highly variable but is not always an honest signal in the painted turtle, Chrysemys picta. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 103: 1-10.
Maki, Erik T., G. Jaimes, and B. A. Reinke. Water Turbidity and Plant Density Influence Shell Shape in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Herpetologica, 79(3): 144-150.
Horn, K., G. Shidemantle, I. Velasquez, E. Ronan, J. Blackwood, B. A. Reinke, and J. Hua. 2023. Evaluating the interactive effects of artificial light at night and background color on tadpole crypsis, background adaptation efficacy, and growth. Environmental Pollution, 333: 122056.
Additional Information
Read about Dr. Reinke's research with turtles and how you can adopt a turtle!