Past Research
Demographic Responses of Eastern Bluebird Populations to Climatic Variability
Climate change affects wildlife species across the world, but the effects likely vary across populations. Therefore, broad spatial scale studies are needed to accurately assess how individual populations respond. Because of its widespread distribution, the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis; hereinafter "bluebird") is an ideal study species. Additionally, this species has experienced historic population declines partially attributed to extreme weather events, and responses to climate change have been documented in recent studies1,2. To assess how multiple populations are projected to fare under future climate change scenarios, I used banding and nesting data from 4 bluebird populations across contrasting climatic regions (2 in the eastern and 2 in the western portion of their range). This research was part of a collaborative effort between myself and researchers Oklahoma State University, Appalachian State University, and Radford University.
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Results for the Arkansas population are published in Population Ecology, and a manuscript detailing results for the remaining populations is in preparation. For more information on additional research at the Arkansas population, please visit my advisor's lab page.
A female Eastern Bluebird incubates her eggs. Photo courtesy of Oscar Perez.
Stock photo courtesy of Wix.com
Factors Associated with Knowledge and Beliefs of College Students Towards Climate Change
Despite the nearly universal consensus among scientists regarding the causes and impacts of climate change, ~25% of the American population does not believe that climate change is a result of anthropogenic activities1, and significant misconceptions remain, even among concerned individuals. Assessing what factors are associated with knowledge and acceptance of climate change are of paramount importance if society is to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This is particularly important for college students, who provide a gauge for how future generations will deal with climate change. I developed a survey that measured first-semester college student's attitudes and knowledge of climate change, and collected demographic information to determine which factors were associated with these measures. This survey was issued to students at 19 universities across the United States.
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The results of this research are published in the journal BioScience.
Synchrony in Nesting Performances of Cavity-Nesting Passerines
Synchronous fluctuations in widespread populations have been documented across multiple taxa, and population size as well as demographic parameters (e.g., breeding success) can become synchronized. This level of synchrony may vary across multiple species in an ecological community, with some species responding differently to the same environmental cue. Among birds, synchrony in breeding parameters may increase as global temperatures continue to rise. Because synchrony is correlated with extinction probability, there is a pressing need to determine which parameters are synchronized (and to what degree) among species within ecological communities and for widespread species.
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To assess the degree of synchrony in hatching success, hatchability (i.e., the proportion of eggs hatched in a successful nest), and fledging success within and among populations of common cavity-nesting species in the southeastern United States, I used 21 years of nesting data from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's NestWatch program.
A manuscript detailing the results of this research is currently in preparation.
A 13-day old Carolina Chickadee. Photo courtesy of Sara Harrod.
Photo copyright McCaulay Library.
Effects of Class-level Vegetation Characteristics on Nesting Success of Bewick’s Wrens
Habitat changes pose a threat to avian species across the world. Whether these changes are due to direct (e.g., habitat destruction and fragmentation) or indirect (e.g., loss of suitable habitat due to climate change) anthropogenic effects, avian populations can suffer via decreased survival or nesting success. Understanding how habitat characteristics affect nest success is paramount, particularly when nest boxes are used,as these are a widely implemented management tool. I established a nest box trail in central Texas and monitored nesting Bewick's Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii), a small passerine confined to south-central and western North America. I used nesting and vegetation data to determine which variables influenced nesting success in nest boxes.
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This research is published in the Southeastern Naturalist.