Faculty Profiles

Fred Wasserman

Fred E. Wasserman

Associate Professor of Biology

PhD, University of Maryland, 1977
Areas of interest: Animal behavior, bird song, territoriality
few@bu.edu
(617) 353-2476

Current Research

My area of research is in Animal Behavior. I am primarily interested in understanding biological phenomena from an evolutionary perspective. I try to answer ecological questions about social systems and communication, and my approach is to study animals in the field under natural conditions. My most recent research has been studying Ovenbirds in suburban landscapes in Massachusetts.

Courses Taught

  • BI 107 Introductory Biology I
  • BI 302 Vertebrate Zoology
  • BI 303 Ecology
  • BI 414 Ornithology

Selected Publications

  • Wasserman FE, Hersek MJ, Frankel MA, Cigliano JA, Morimoto DC, Moran J (1998). Evolutionary lag in Cowbird nestling recognition by Ovenbirds. Bird Observer 26, 229-235.
  • Hersek MJ, Frankel MA, Cigliano JA, Wasserman FE (2002). Brown-Headed Cowbird parasitism of Ovenbirds in suburban forest fragments. The Auk 119, 240-243.
  • Schimmel L, Wasserman FE (1994). Individual and species preference in two passerine birds: auditory and visual cues. The Auk 111, 634-642.
  • Wasserman FE, Cigliano JA (1991). Song output and stimulation of the female in White-throated Sparrows. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 29, 55-59.
  • Schimmel L, Wasserman FE (1991). An interspecific comparison of individual and species recognition in the passerines Turdus migratorius and Cyanocitta cristata.  Behaviour 118, 115-126.
    Wasserman FE. (1980). Territorial behavior in a pair of White-throated Sparrows. Wilson Bulletin 92, 74-87.
  • Wasserman FE. (1977). Mate attraction function of song in the White-throated Sparrow. The Condor 79, 125-127.

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