Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Dissertations

2012

  • Edward Brzostek
    Proteolytic enzyme activity in soils: Interactive effects of soil temperature and moisture, substrate availability, and mychorhizal fungi.
    Advisor: Finzi

2011

  • Myra C. Hughey
    Integrating species interactions and spatial dynamics to explain insect distribution and abundance on a patchy resource.
    Advisor: Warkentin
  • Marianne Susan Moore
    Ecological immunology in little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus; Chiroptera) affected by white-nose syndrome.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Mario L. Muscedere
    Social organization, development, and functional neuroplasticity in the ant genus Pheidole.
    Advisor: Traniello

2010

  • Michael S. Caldwell
    The use of vibrational information by red-eyed treefrogs for communication and antipredator defense.
    Advisor: Warkentin
  • Jonathan David Reichard
    Seasonal activity and energetics of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) in south-central Texas.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Kari Teruya Ryder Wilkie
    Biodiversity and distribution of the ants of Amazonian Ecuador.
    Advisor: Traniello

2009

  • Louise C. Allen
    Immunity, reproductive success, and stress in cave- and bridge-roosting Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis): Implications for conservation.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Amy Louise Mertl
    Species richness, community structure, and social organization in Amazonian Pheidole.
    Advisor: Traniello
  • Mariana Munoz-Romo
    The dorsal patch and chemical signaling in the long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae, in Venezuela.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Justin C.Touchon
    Developmental ecology and reproductive mode plasticity of a Neotropical treefrog: Interacting abiotic and biotic environmental effects over three life stages.
    Advisor: Warkentin

2008

  • Adam M. Reitzel
    Population genetics and life history evolution in the sea anemone family Edwardsiidae.
    Advisor: Finnerty
  • Vikki L. Rodgers
    Impacts of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) invasion on plant diversity and soil nutrient cycling in northern hardwood-conifer forests.
    Advisor: Finzi
  • James C. Sullivan
    Bioinformatic and molecular analyses of the Nematostella genome reveal a mixture of ancient conservation and rapid recent evolution.
    Advisor: Finnerty

2007

  • Jason W. Horn
    Nightly and seasonal behavior of bats in the aerosphere assessed with thermal infrared imaging and NEXRAD Doppler radar.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Bram V. Lutton
    Characterization of the epigonal organ-ovary complex of the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea: A model for reproductive-immune interactions.
    Advisor: Ian Callard
  • Maureen E. Mazza
    Homeobox evolution: Insights from homeobox clusters in the basal metazoan, Nematostella vectensis.
    Advisor: Finnerty
  • Madhava Meegaskumbura
    Molecular systematics, evolution, and ecology of Sri Lankan shrub-frogs (Rhacophorinae: Pseudophilautus).
    Advisor: Schneider
  • Suyama Meegaskumbura
    Systematics, taxonomy, and biogeography of Sri Lankan shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae).
    Advisor: Schneider
  • Abraham J. Miller-Rushing
    Impacts of climate change on the phenology of temperate forest plants and birds in Massachusetts and Japan.
    Advisor: Primack
  • William Oweke O. Ojwang
    Patterns of resurgence and anthropogenic influence on trophic sources and interactions among fishes of Lake Victoria, Kenya.
    Advisor: Kaufman
  • Marcio R. Pie
    Morphological evolution in a hyperdiverse clade: The ant genus Pheidole.
    Advisor: Traniello
  • John Benjamin Rinehart
    Roosting ecology of Neotropical tent-making bats in eastern Ecuador.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Joseph F. Ryan
    The evolution of animal body plans: Genomic evidence from the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis and other early-branching metazoa.
    Advisor: Finnerty
  • Joseph St. George
    Characterization in the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea, of conserved sex determination genes.
    Advisor: Ian Callard

2006

  • Daniel V. Calleri
    Sociality, disease and life history in termites.
    Advisor: Traniello
  • Polly Campbell
    Evolution and ecology of Southeast Asian fruit bats in the genus, Cynopterus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae).
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Gloriana Chaverri Echandi
    Ecological correlates of social strategies in the neotropical tent-making bat Artibeus watsoni.
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Ryan J. Harrigan
    Global phylogeography of the mallard complex (genus Anas): Speciation, hybridization, and lineage sorting.
    Advisor: Sorenson
  • Kevin Yana Njabo
    Phylogeography and systematics of montane forest birds in Cameroon.
    Advisor: Sorenson
  • Christopher S. Richardson
    Intraspecific variation in metabolism and thermoregulation in Eptesicus fuscus (the big brown bat).
    Advisor: Kunz
  • Seung Jae Won
    Vitellogenin: A potential biomarker for xenobiotic exposure in a vertebrate (Chrysemys picta) and invertebrates (Elliptio complanata and Caenorhabditis elegans).
    Advisor: Ian Callard