Virginia Hayssen

As a humanist, Virginia Hayssen’s scholarship explores cultural bias in reproductive biology.  As with other aspects of life, the words and images we use are, consciously or unconsciously, infused with our cultural heritage.  The language and illustrations of reproductive biology are not exempt from this cultural bias.  Bias is maintained by cultural acquiescence, but attentiveness to language and perspective can ameliorate the effects.  This is the goal.

As a mammalogist Dr. Hayssen’s research examines the evolution of reproduction across mammals, specifically exploring how litter size, gestation length, neonatal length and lactation length are influenced by the physical characteristics of an animal as well as by its ancestry and ecology.

Another research emphasis is on pleiotropy, the multiple phenotypic effects a single genetic locus can have on the biology of an animal. Specifically, investigating the agouti coat-color locus, which alters the external color of an animal’s fur but also alters its behavior and internal anatomy.

Finally, Hayssen publishes synthetic reviews of individual mammalian species including all aspects of their biology, their distribution, their conservation, and their historical names. Only the 2 most recent are listed below.

Representative Publications

Baker, ZW, V Hayssen. 2024.  A practical guide to avoiding biased communication in reproductive biology.Integrative and Comparative Biology [in press, July 2024]

Noonan, P., Baker, ZW., Hayssen, V.; 2024. Otocolobus manul (Carnivora: Felilidae). Mammalian Species 56(1038):1-13 [doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/mspecies/seae004]

Berezin, JL, Odom, AJ, Hayssen V, O’Connell-Rodwell, CE.  2023.  A snapshot into the lives of elephants: Camera traps and conservation in Etosha National Park, Namibit.  DIversity 15:1146 (14 pages) [Doi.org/10.3390/d15111146]

Hayssen, V., Noonan, P.  2021. Crocuta crocuta ; 2017. Callosciurus prevostii (CarnivoraRodentia: HyaenSciuridae). Mammalian Species 5349(1000945):1-22 [DOI: 10.1093/mspecies/seab00]  40–50.

Kitchener, A.C., Machado, F.A., Hayssen, V., Moehlman, P.D., Viranta, S. 2020. Consequences of the mis-identification of museum specimens: The taxonomic status of Canis lupaster soudanicus.  Journal of Mammalogy 101:1148-1150.  DOI:10:1093/jmammal/gyaa080.

Hayssen, V.  2020.  Misconceptions about conception and other fallacies.  Integrative and Comparative Biology, 60(3): 683-691. [https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa035]

Orr, T, Hayssen, V.  2020. The female snark is not a boojum: looking towards the future of studying female reproductive biology.  Integrative and Comparative Biology, 60(3):782-795. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa091

Orr, T, 13 authors, Hayssen V.  2020. It takes two to tango: including a female perspective in reproductive biology.  Integrative and Comparative Biology, 60(3):796-813. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icaa084

Hayssen, V., T.J. Orr. 2017. Reproduction in mammals: the female perspective. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.

Hayssen, V.  2016. Reproduction in grey squirrels: from anatomy to conservation. Pp. 115-130 in ‘The grey squirrel: ecology and management of an invasive species in Europe’ (Shuttleworth, C, Lurz, PWW, and Gurnell, J, eds.). European Squirrel Initiative, W. O. Jones, Llangefni, Wales

Ward, A., V. Hayssen. 2010. Measuring cortisol in hair and saliva from dogs: coat color and pigment differences. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 39: 171-180.

Hayssen, V. 2008. "Reproductive effort in squirrels: ecological, phylogenetic, allometric, and latitudinal patterns," Journal of Mammalogy 89(3): 582-606.

Hayssen, V. 2008. "Reproduction within marmotine ground-squirrels (Sciuridae, Xerinae, Marmotini): patterns among genera." Journal of Mammalogy 89(3): 607–16.

Hayssen, V. 2008. "Patterns of body and tail length and body mass in Sciuridae," Journal of Mammalogy 89(4):852–73.

Gardner, A.L., and V. Hayssen. 2004. "A guide to constructing and understanding synonymies for Mammalian Species." Mammalian Species 739: 1–17.

Hayssen, V., J. M. Harper, and R. DeFina. 2002. "Fecal corticosteroids in agouti and nonagouti deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A. Molecular and Integrative Physiology 132: 439–46.

Hayssen, V. 2001. "Body and organ mass in agouti and nonagouti in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)." Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 130A: 311–21.

Lapseritis, J. M., and V. Hayssen. 2001. "Thyroxine levels in agouti and nonagouti deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus)." Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 130A: 295–99.

Goodwin, N., V. Hayssen, D. W. Deakin, and A. P. F. Flint. 1999. "Influence of social status on ovarian function in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)." Physiology and Behavior 65: 691–96.

Hayssen, V. 1998. "Effect of transatlantic transport on reproduction of agouti and nonagouti deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus." Laboratory Animals. 32: 55–64.

Hayssen, V. 1997. "Effects of the nonagouti coat-color allele on behavior of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus): A comparison with Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)." Journal of Comparative Psychology 111: 419–23.

Jabbour, H., V. Hayssen, and M. Bruford. 1997. "Conservation of deer: Contributions from molecular biology, evolutionary ecology, and reproductive physiology." Journal of Zoology 243: 461–84.

Kunz, T., C. Wemmer, and V. Hayssen. 1996. "Assessment of sex, age, and reproductive condition in mammals." pp. 279–90, in Measuring and monitoring biological diversity: Standard methods for mammals. D. E. Wilson, F. R. Cole, J. D. Nichols, R. Rudran and M. S. Foster, eds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 409 pp.

Hayssen V., and T. H. Kunz. 1996. "Allometry of litter mass in bats: Comparisons with maternal size, wing morphology, and phylogeny." Journal of Mammalogy. 77(2): 476–90.

Hayssen, V. 1995. "Milk: It does a baby good." Natural History Magazine. 104(12): 36.