A5001712724- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Marine animal studies overview
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Forest ecology and management
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Marine and fisheries research
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Tennessee Technological University
2022-2025
Abstract Animals balance costs of antipredator behaviors with resource acquisition to minimize hunting and other mortality risks maximize their physiological condition. This inherent trade‐off between forage abundance, its quality, risk is intensified in human‐dominated landscapes because fragmentation, habitat loss, degradation natural vegetation communities often coupled artificially enhanced (i.e., food plots), creating high‐risk, high‐reward selection decisions. Our goal was evaluate...
Avian influenza viruses pose a threat to wildlife and livestock health. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian (HPAI) in wild birds poultry North America late 2021 was the first such outbreak since 2015 largest date. Despite its prominence economic impacts, we know relatively little about how HPAI spreads bird populations. In January 2022, captured 43 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) Tennessee, USA, 11 which were actively infected with HPAI. These confirmed detections H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b...
The spatiotemporal allocation of activity is fundamental to how organisms balance energetic intake and predation risk. Activity patterns fluctuate daily seasonally, they are proximately affected by exogenous endogenous conditions. For birds, flight often necessary for relocating between foraging patches but energetically expensive can increase mortality Hunted species may have adjust their behavior minimize anthropogenic We used hourly locations from 336 GPS‐marked mallards Anas...
Abstract Animal foraging strategies are formulated in a complex decision‐making matrix that is predicated on balancing energy intake and expenditure within landscape of predation risk. Game species encounter dynamic risks during hunting season as ephemeral predators (i.e., hunters) alter the risk daily seasonally. Predators prey often concentrate around food sources season, further complicating balance minimization for species. For example, many wetland managers provide energy‐rich...
Global climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events (ECEs) which may be especially detrimental during late-winter when many species are surviving on scarce resources. However, monitoring animal populations relative to ECEs logistically challenging. Crowd-sourced datasets provide opportunity monitor species' responses short-term chance phenomena such as ECEs. We used 14 years eBird-a global citizen science initiative-to examine distribution changes for...
Abstract The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) recognizes waterfowl hunters and non‐consumptive users as important stakeholders to sustain populations through economic political support for habitat conservation initiatives. Opportunities shoot at harvest ducks are key determinants of achievement‐oriented hunt satisfaction quality. Therefore, identifying factors influencing opportunity would help wildlife managers identify optimal days afield promote hunter recruitment,...
Abstract Conservation planners use bioenergetic models to develop habitat objectives that satisfy energetic demands of waterfowl during nonbreeding periods. In turn, natural resource managers should estimate yield and availability cultivated forage monitor contributions support adaptive management. Because are particularly sensitive unharvested flooded croplands, we developed a rapid methodology biomass corn ( Zea mays ) tested our in impounded fields planted western Tennessee autumn winter...
The equilibrium theorem provided a fundamental framework for understanding species' distributions and movement in fragmented ecosystems. Wetland-dependent avian species are model organisms to test insular predictions within protected area networks because their mobility allows surveillance of isolated patches without landscape barriers. We hypothesized size isolation would influence functional connectivity sanctuaries by GPS-marked wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) mesocosm sanctuary...
Abstract Extreme climatic events (ECEs) can have profound impacts on individual fitness, affecting survival directly or indirectly. Late winter ECEs may be especially detrimental to fitness due limited food resources and increased energetic requirements during this time. A polar vortex disruption ECE descended upon the mid-continental United States February 7–20, 2021 with temperatures as low −29°C in areas concurrent ongoing research Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) movement ecology Arkansas,...
Abstract Spring migration is hypothesized to be time-constrained because of competition for optimal nesting and brood-rearing sites. Therefore, individuals are predicted minimize time breeding destinations; however, strategies likely lie on a continuum based wintering stopover habitat quality, environmental conditions, or individual-level factors. In other words, subpopulations may differentially prioritize time-energy trade-offs during depending where they from, when leave, going. We tested...
Testing of ducks in Tennessee, United States, before introduction highly pathogenic influenza A(H5N1) virus demonstrated a high prevalence antibodies to A but very low H5 (25%) or and N1 (13%) subtypes. Antibody increased after H5N1 introduction.
Abstract The miniaturization of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) transmitters is providing insights into the ecology and management migratory bird species at biologically‐relevant spatial scales. However, their attachment methods could bias inferred behaviors, demographic rates, resulting decisions. We evaluated effects external harness‐style GPS by comparing direct harvest winter dispersal distances, subsequent distributions mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) equipped with n = 443) to a tarsal...
Wildlife managers often provide spatial sanctuaries for wildlife to escape both lethal (e.g. hunting) and non‐lethal non‐consumptive recreation) human disturbance. However, as societal interest in outdoor recreation continues climb, many areas face added pressure allow recreation, yet studies increasingly demonstrate negative effects of on wildlife. As such, an understanding how respond activities is essential develop sustainable guidelines preserve multiple benefits humans, while...
Introgressive hybridization, the interbreeding and gene flow between different species, has become increasingly common in Anthropocene, where human-induced ecological changes introduction of captively reared individuals are increasing secondary contact among closely related leading to wild domesticated lineages. As a result, domesticated-wild hybridization may potentially affect individual fitness, maladaptive effects such as shifts behavior or life-history decisions (e.g., migration...