A5081543249- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
William & Mary
2016-2023
University of Utah
2010-2011
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2004-2008
Randolph–Macon College
2008
▪ Abstract Bird song provides an unusually impressive illustration of vertebrate behavioral diversification. Research on bird evolution traditionally focuses factors that enhance diversity, such as cultural transmission and sexual selection. Recent advances in the study proximate mechanisms vocal behavior, however, provide opportunities for studying mechanistic constraints evolution. The main goal this review is to examine, from both conceptual empirical perspectives, how might temper...
Summary Previous studies of the Medium Ground Finch, Geospiza fortis , have documented that selection is most severe under drought conditions, which generally favour beaks are comparatively deep and narrow. Deep presumed to enhance a bird's ability crack hard seeds, narrow been proposed efficiency in manipulating seeds. In present study, we make first direct measurements bite force Darwin's finches. We used 147 G. from Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos, document influence beak, head body dimensions...
A key part of the ecological theory adaptive radiation is disruptive selection during periods sympatry. Some insight into this process might be gained by studying populations that are bimodal for dual-context traits, i.e. those showing divergence and also contributing to reproductive isolation. population meeting these criteria medium ground finch ( Geospiza fortis ) El Garrapatero, Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos. We examined patterns in relating individual beak sizes interannual recaptures a...
Recent research on speciation has identified a central role for ecological divergence, which can initiate when (i) subsets of species or population evolve to specialize different resources and (ii) the resulting phenotypic modes become reproductively isolated. Empirical evidence these two processes working in conjunction, particularly during early stages been limited. We recently described medium ground finch, Geospiza fortis , that features large small beak morphs with relatively few...
Studies of Darwin's finches the Galapagos Islands have provided pivotal insights into interplay ecological variation, natural selection, and morphological evolution. Here we document, across nine finch species, correlations between variation bite force capacity. We find that correlates strongly with beak depth width but only weakly or not at all length, a result is consistent prior demonstrations selection on morphology. also predicted even more by head width, which exceeds dimensions in...
Animal mating signals evolve in part through indirect natural selection on anatomical traits that influence signal expression. In songbirds, for example, beak form and function can the evolution of song features, because role production. this study we characterize relationship between morphology features within a bimodal population Geospiza fortis Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos. This is only extant Darwin's finches known to possess distribution size. We test hypothesis birds with larger beaks...
Background Introduced parasites are a particular threat to small populations of hosts living on islands because extinction can occur before have chance evolve effective defenses. An experimental approach in which parasite abundance is manipulated the field be most informative means assessing parasite's impact host. The parasitic fly Philornis downsi, recently introduced Galápagos Islands, feeds nestling Darwin's finches and other land birds. Several correlational studies, one study mixed...
Museum specimens serve as the bedrock of systematic and taxonomic research provide basis for repeatability or reinterpretation preserved aspects phenotypes. Specimens are also fundamental to fields such ecology, behavior, development. Each specimen is a record biodiversity documents particular species present at place time. As such, can key evidence conservation initiatives. Four natural history collections their use discussed here: 1) collection, curation, specimens, particularly...
Abstract Increasing global temperature has led to an interest in plasticity the timing of annual events; however, little is known about demographic consequences changing phenology. Annual reproductive success varies significantly among individuals within a population, and some that variation do with number broods attempted by reproducing adults. In birds, female age reproduction are often predictors multiple breeding. We hypothesize double brooding rates may be affected spring response vary...
Background Invasive parasites are a major threat to island populations of animals. Darwin's finches the Galápagos Islands under attack by introduced pox virus (Poxvirus avium) and nest flies (Philornis downsi). We developed assays for parasite-specific antibody responses in (Geospiza fortis), test relationships between adaptive immune novel spatial-temporal variation occurrence parasite pressure among G. fortis populations. Methodology/Principal Findings enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISAs)...
Divergent natural selection should lead to adaptive radiation-that is, the rapid evolution of phenotypic and ecological diversity originating from a single clade. The drivers radiation have often been conceptualized through concept "adaptive landscapes," yet formal empirical estimates landscapes for radiations proven elusive. Here, we use 17-year dataset Darwin's ground finches (Geospiza spp.) at an intensively studied site on Santa Cruz (Galápagos) estimate individual apparent lifespan in...
In many avian species, a male's colorful feather ornaments are known to signal individual quality and can serve as the basis for mate choice. Fewer studies have assessed whether this is true females, who also display plumage ornaments. We investigated breast crown reflectance in female Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) was correlated with annual reproductive success nestling provisioning rate. collected 160 samples from 112 nesting warblers across 5 breeding seasons (2010–2014)...
Preening is a bird's first line of defense against harmful ectoparasites. Ectoparasites, in turn, have evolved adaptations for avoiding preening such as hardened exoskeletons and escape behavior. Earlier work suggests that some groups ectoparasites, feather lice, leave hiding places feathers are exposed to direct sunlight, making them more vulnerable preening. It is, therefore, conceivable birds may choose preen assuming it improves the effectiveness Using mourning doves their we tested 2...
Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP), although prevalent in some avian taxa, is easily overlooked when it occurs low frequencies, and therefore the ecology of this behavior has only occasionally been described passerines. We describe occurrence CBP a population Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) breeding nest boxes, demonstrate associated fitness costs, investigate parasite strategy. genotyped individuals at 6 microsatellite loci used Cervus software to determine log-likelihood...
Disruptive natural selection within populations exploiting different resources is considered to be a major driver of adaptive radiation and the production biodiversity. Fitness functions, which describe relationships between trait variation fitness, can help illuminate how this disruptive leads population differentiation. However, single fitness function represents only particular regime over specified time period (often season or year), therefore might not capture longer-term dynamics....
The term