Research
House sparrow nest boxes in Stephenville, TX
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In the Names Lab, we use an interdisciplinary framework involving the fields of physiology, morphology, and behavioral ecology to study and predict how anthropogenic global changes affect vertebrate evolution and conservation.
In the Names Lab, we use an interdisciplinary framework involving the fields of physiology, morphology, and behavioral ecology to study and predict how anthropogenic global changes affect vertebrate evolution and conservation.
Adult male Hawaii Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens).
Avian malaria effects on songbirds
Avian malaria effects on songbirds
We are studying how the introduction of avian malaria has affected the immunity, physiology, and behavior of an endemic island songbird, the Hawaii Amakihi. We aim to provide insights into the mechanisms of increased malaria resilience, and the consequences of chronic infection. Current projects include:
How does chronic infection influence body size?
How does immunity vary with sex and across elevation in juveniles?
How does physiological aging vary across the disease gradient in juveniles?
Disease in northern California songbirds
Disease in northern California songbirds
Chronic infections can have negative effects on wildlife survival and fitness, but for many wild species, infection rates and the effects of diseases on their health and physiology remain poorly understood. We aim to fill these gaps by studying disease, physiology, and health in northern California songbirds. New projects include:
What is the prevalence of endoparasites and ectoparasites in common northern California songbirds?
How are infections correlated with individual measures of health and physiology (e.g., immunomodulatory hormones, immunity)?
Pipetting for bacterial killing assay to quantify immunity in songbirds (photo: Kathleen Hunt).
Lindsey Willingham (PhD student) checking house sparrow nest boxes.
House sparrow responses to climate change
House sparrow responses to climate change
In the USA, adult house sparrows are bigger at more northern latitudes compared to southern latitudes, but the mechanisms driving this variation in body size remain poorly understood. In collaboration with Dr. Britt Heidinger’s lab at North Dakota State University, we are investigating the role nestling growth rates and hormones play in driving variation in adult body size. Current projects include:
Hoes do nestling body size, physiological aging, and insulin-like growth factor 1 vary across latitude?
How are growth and body size influenced by genetics and phenotypic plasticity?
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