A5012936247- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Scientific Computing and Data Management
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Body Composition Measurement Techniques
University of Nevada, Reno
2016-2024
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
2019
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
2014-2018
Nevada System of Higher Education
2017
Google (United States)
2017
Virginia Tech
2014-2016
Princeton University
2011-2014
Hormones mediate major physiological and behavioural components of the reproductive phenotype individuals. To understand basic evolutionary processes in hormonal regulation traits, we need to know whether, during which phases, individual variation hormone concentrations relates fitness natural populations. We related circulating prolactin corticosterone parental behaviour success both pre-breeding chick-rearing stages individuals pairs free-living house sparrows, Passer domesticus. Prolactin...
The natural nighttime environment is increasingly polluted by artificial light. Several studies have linked light at night to negative impacts on human health. In free-living animals, pollution associated with changes in circadian, reproductive, and social behavior, but whether these animals also suffer from physiologic costs remains unknown. To fill this gap, we made use of a unique network field sites which are either completely unlit (control), or artificially illuminated white, green,...
Organisms have evolved under natural daily light/dark cycles for millions of years. These been disturbed as night-time darkness is increasingly replaced by artificial illumination. Investigating the physiological consequences free-living organisms in artificially lit environments crucial to determine whether nocturnal lighting disrupts circadian rhythms, changes behaviour, reduces fitness and ultimately affects population numbers. We make use a unique, large-scale network replicated field...
A major aim of evolutionary biology is to understand why patterns genomic diversity vary within taxa and space. Large-scale studies widespread species are useful for studying how environment demography shape divergence. Here, we describe one the most geographically comprehensive surveys variation in a wild vertebrate date; great tit (Parus major) HapMap project. We screened ca 500,000 SNP markers across 647 individuals from 29 populations, spanning ~30 degrees latitude 40 longitude - almost...
The effects of artificial night lighting on animal behaviour and fitness are largely unknown. Most studies report short-term consequences in locations that also exposed to other anthropogenic disturbance. We know little about how the nocturnal illumination vary with different light colour compositions. This is increasingly relevant as use LED lights becomes more common, composition can be easily adjusted. experimentally illuminated previously dark natural habitat white, green red light,...
Abstract A central goal in evolutionary ecology is to characterize and identify selection patterns on the optimal phenotype different environments. Physiological traits, such as hormonal responses, provide important mechanisms by which individuals can adapt fluctuating environmental conditions. It therefore expected that shapes but strength direction of plastic signals are still under investigation. Here, we determined whether, way, acting hormones corticosterone prolactin characterizing...
Rates of human-induced environmental change continue increasing with human population size, potentially altering animal physiology and negatively affecting wildlife. Researchers often use glucocorticoid concentrations (hormones that can be associated stressors) to gauge the impact anthropogenic factors (e.g. urbanization, noise light pollution). Yet, no general relationships between glucocorticoids have emerged. Given number recent studies reporting baseline stress-induced corticosterone...
Highly plastic endocrine traits are thought to play a central role in allowing organisms respond rapidly environmental change. Yet, not all individuals display the same degree of plasticity these traits, and costs this individual variation unknown. We studied differences corticosterone levels under varying conditions test whether there consistent (1) baseline levels; (2) hormonal response an ecologically relevant stressor (food restriction); (3) related fitness costs, as estimated by...
As urban areas continue to grow, understanding how species respond and adapt habitats is becoming increasingly important. Knowledge of the mechanisms behind observed phenotypic changes urban-dwelling animals will enable us better evaluate impact urbanization on current future generations wildlife predict novel environments. Recently, ecology has emerged not only as a means organismal adaptation but also framework for exploring mediating evolutionary phenomena. Here, we have identified four...
The impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on ecological and behavioural processes is increasingly recognized but we have limited knowledge the ALAN wild species, potential to mitigate any negative effects by using different sources colors. In birds, activity levels are reported for several species and, hence, their daily energy expenditure (DEE) may be affected. DEE a potent mediator life-history trade-offs fitness thus an important aspect consider when examining long-term ALAN....
Abstract Nighttime light pollution is quickly becoming a pervasive, global concern. Since the invention and proliferation of light‐emitting diodes (LED), it has become common for consumers to select from range color temperatures with varying spectra. Yet, biological impacts these different spectra on organisms remain unclear. We tested if nighttime illumination LEDs, at two commercially available (3000 5000 K) ecologically relevant levels affected body condition, food intake, locomotor...
A major challenge in urban ecology is to identify the environmental factors responsible for phenotypic differences between and rural individuals. However, intercorrelation that characterize environments, combined with a lack of experimental manipulations these both areas, hinder efforts which aspects environments are differences. Among modified by urbanization, anthropogenic sound, particularly traffic noise, especially detrimental animals. The mechanisms sound affects animals unclear, but...
Studies of animal behavior often rely on human observation, which introduces a number limitations sampling. Recent developments in automated logging behaviors make it possible to circumvent some these problems. Once verified for efficacy and accuracy, systems can be used determine optimal sampling regimes behavioral studies. Here, we radio-frequency identification (RFID) system quantify parental effort bi-parental songbird species: the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). We found that...
Studies of wild populations have provided important insights into the effects artificial light at night on organisms, and ecosystems. However, in most studies exact amount individuals are exposed to remains unknown. Individuals can potentially control their nighttime exposure by seeking dark spots within illuminated areas. This uncertainty makes it difficult attribute a direct effect night, or indirect effects, e.g., via an food availability. In this study, we aim quantify nocturnal birds...