2008 Research Clusters

Animal Movements in Heterogeneous Habitats

Faculty Mentors: Tom Crist (Cluster leader), Michelle Boone, Brian Keane, Paul Schaeffer, and Nancy Solomon

Student Participants: Matt Bramble, Coral Navedo, Haley Davis, Julie Charbonnier

Animal movements, dispersal, and habitat use play key roles in the survival, reproduction, and population distribution of animals. In this research cluster, students will examine the physiological, behavioral, and population-level processes involved in animal movements within and among habitats of different types. Research projects will investigate several animal taxa – amphibians, small mammals, and insects – and use a variety of methods for measuring animal movements and fitness in natural and managed habitats. All of the projects will involve experiments, but differ in how the developmental environment or physiological condition affects individual movements and fitness, or how manipulations of habitat boundaries influence the abundance and distribution of animals. Students will therefore be exposed to several research questions and experimental approaches in physiological, behavioral and population ecology.

Species and Ecosystem Responses To Human-Dominated Landscapes

Faculty Mentors:  Hank Stevens (Cluster leader), Mary Henry, John Maingi, Al Cady, Bruce Steinly, Maria Gonzalez.

Student Participants:  Matt Rich, Viankie Pagan, Darin Alexander, Ken Kellner

Human activities have significantly altered natural landscapes.  Scientists are attempting to understand how ecosystems and their embedded species assemblages respond to these changes. Some anthropogenic alterations such as residual pesticides, extermination of keystone species, introductions of invasive species, or general habitat destruction seem uniformly negative. Other alterations such as prescribed fire or sustainable harvests may be considered management strategies attempting to mimic natural processes. This cluster will focus on understanding the relative impacts and ecological consequences from these alterations by investigating how species and ecosystem processes respond to various human-induced perturbations.