AVIAN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
Conservation Ecologists need
to be the very best ecologists. What we do matters now! We need
to effectively conduct and communicate the most rigorous and useful science
possible. Every kind
of person on earth is in our audience – not just other scientists.
Kathryn E. Sieving
Professor
Department of Wildlife Ecology
& Conservation
B.Sc. (’82) Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology
Ph.D. (’91) Ecology,
Ethology, & Evolution
What is ‘pishing’
and why does it
attract birds? Click the titmouse to learn….
Links of Interest
*
Readings for My courses
* UF
Minor in Sustainability Studies
* Minor in Organic and Sustainable Crop
Production
* 
All About Undergraduate Honors in WEC and @ UF
*
* $$ for Bird Research
* Jobs (volunteer / paid) for Experience
* Need to Write a ‘Curriculum Vita’
(academic resume)?
*
10 Tips to
Bullet-Proof any Resume
Best Bird Conservation NGO (in my opinion) à Send $$ to American Bird Conservancy
My Publications ![MCj02340070000[1]](index_files/image013.gif)
My Research Interests
My core research program focuses on conserving and restoring
forest biodiversity, especially songbirds, in disturbed, fragmented, and
otherwise human-dominated landscapes in historically forested biomes. This focus on the ‘matrix’ (human habitat
created around what remains of natural habitats) has naturally led us to
integrating biodiversity conservation in both agricultural and other types of
rural lands close and far from protected areas. We are currently working in
fragmented forests, organic and conventional farm / pastoral systems in
Integration of bird conservation with
sustainable food production.
The world is under pressure to support 9+ billion people
(projected population in 2050) and
functioning ecosystems. Since ag land
dominates the area of land surface devoted to human needs, far outstripping protected
natural ecosystems in most countries, the biodiversity-holding capacity of food
production lands – if improved – could help sustain non-human life on
earth.
Our research program, based, in part, on the doctoral
dissertation work of Dr. Greg Jones (SFCC Biology Faculty),
supports development of high productivity (food and biodiversity), low-chemical
input agro-ecosystems. Our approach is
to assess whether native insect-eating birds can eat enough leaf-chewing pests
to enhance vegetable production in sustainable agro-ecosystems, and whether
farming systems are suitable, productive, safe habitat for the birds we attract
into them.
The latest work was conducted by John J. DeLuca who examined
two sides of the question in his project, entitled, Are farms good for
bluebirds (or, do they provide suitable
habitat), and are bluebirds good for farms (or, do they consume significant pest biomass)? The answer is that bluebirds are perhaps better
for farms than vice versa (including organic farms), but the relationship is
certainly tenable. See the final report HERE;
manuscripts are in preparation. 
Featured ‘birds-can-be-positive-for-ag’ publication
from my lab - PDF
And another one! - PDF
Read up on cutting edge organic
farming research at
Organic
Farming and Research Foundation – www.ofrf.org.
Behavioral landscape ecology of forest
birds.
Principles of
‘Behavioral Landscape Ecology’ are fundamental
to understanding the distribution
and viability of wildlife
populations, because
behavioral mechanisms help determine
spatial distributions
of animals. Studies of spatial behavior
in
disturbed and
fragmented landscapes can identify both positive
and negative influences
on landscape connectivity. We use
behavioral ecology to
understand forest bird movements,
activities, and
distribution in disturbed landscapes.
This work examines
bird responses to habitat configurations
(e.g., corridors,
boundaries, and matrix) and to the presence and
activities of other
species at local and landscape scales.
My lab is actively
pursuing patterns and mechanisms underlying
positive interactions
(facilitation) among bird species,
and regional
approaches to landscape design for
biodiversity protection.
Featured facilitation publication from my lab - PDF
Featured landscape design publication from my lab - PDF
And Another ! - PDF
Ecology of avian nest predation.
Among the most
complex of community ecological
interactions under
study today, nest predation ecology
in general is poorly
understood because few people are
asking important
theory-based higher-level questions
about drivers of
the direct and indirect interactions that determine nest predation patterns in
target systems.
I have an abiding
interest in fostering better nest predation ecology research by elevating
research questions
and designs used to address them.
Featured nest predation ecology publication from my lab - PDF
Courses Developed
& Taught
My current teaching breadth includes interdisciplinary
approaches
to biodiversity conservation and societal sustainability;
critical thinking;
field-based research design for wildlife/avian ecologists;
behavioral
landscape ecology, and the maturing philosophy of
conservation science.
Avian Field
Research class at the Ordway Preserve.
Current
WIS 3403c Perspectives in Wildlife Ecology and
Conservation
WIS 5496 Research Design in Wildlife Ecology &
Conservation
WIS 4547c Avian
Field Research
Recent Past
Summer ’06: Design of Social-Ecological Research Studies
·
Co-taught with Mickie Swisher (FYC, UF) in
Socio-Ecologists
in Research Design course, Argentina, July 2006.
ALS 4921 Honors Colloquium
·
Topic Summer ’05: Ecological
Sustainability in Sense & Soul
·
Topic Summer ‘04:
Diversity and Resilience in Living Systems
·
Topic: Falls ‘98-‘00:
Problem-solving to Achieve a Sustainable Society
Distant Past (1991-95, CSU
Graduate
Conservation Biology; Natural Resources Conservation; Ornithology;
Wildlife
Ecology & Management; General Zoology; General Biology
NOTE TO PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS & POST DOCS:
To
be considered for a position in my lab, please send …
*
A clear but brief letter of career goals and research interests that clearly
relate to my interests,
*
A current curriculum vita indicating relevant coursework, GPA, experience,
publications, and GRE scores.
*
Before contacting me, please explore the following links and address funding
issues in your inquiry.
UF (WEC / SNRE) assistantships and
fellowships - $; $
McKnight Fellowships - $
NSF Graduate Fellowships - $
EPA-STAR Fellowships - $
My
Kickin’ Lab !
Current Graduate and Undergraduate Scholars
Fangyuan Hua, Ph.D. – Forest
fragmentation, logging, and birds in Sumatra.
Eduardo Silva, Ph.D. – Chilean wildlife,
human subsidies, & domestic carnivores.
Ping Huang, M.Sc.
– Parids, public information, and exploratory behavior.
Willandia Chaves-Didier, Ph.D.
– Wildlife trade and hunting in the Amazon.
Chelsea Heatherington, B.Sc. Honors – exploratory
and homing behavior in forest birds.
Sieving
Lab Alumni – Research and
current activities
Post-Docs
Dr. Thomas A.
Contreras, Post Doc (2002-2006). Ecology of behavioral facilitation in winter
flocks.
NSF Postdoctoral Award Recipient (2003-2006).
Currently Assistant Professor,
Dr. Kevina Vulinec, Post Doc (2000-2002).
Fire ecology and restoration.
Currently Associate Professor, Delaware State University
Dr. Joan L. Morrison, Post Doc
(1999). Landscape ecology of nest
predators in Southern Chile .
Currently
Associate Professor, Trinity
College
Ph. D.
Dr. Iván A. Díaz, Ph.D.
2008. Epiphyte–bird interactions in Chilean rainforest.
Currently
Post-doc at Universidad Austral,
Dr.
Currently Assistant Professor of Biology,
Traci D. Castellón,
Ph.D. 2005. Avian landscape ecology and sustainable patch
networks.
Instructor, Graduate Pattern & Process in Landscape
Ecology (U
Currently Post-doctoral Researcher – Archbold Biological
Station, Gainesville
Recent paper! Another! And Another!
John
J. Kappes, Ph.D. 2004.
Heterospecific use of red-cockaded woodpecker cavities.
Currently post-doc
with Dr. Jeff Walters (VPI&SU).
Gregory A. Jones, Ph.D. 2003.
Integrating bird conservation and farming.
Professor,
M. Sc.
Willandia Chaves-Didier, M.Sc.
2009. Wildlife and logging in Acre, Brasil.
John J. DeLuca, M.Sc. 2008. Are farms
ecological traps for Eastern Bluebirds?
Stacia A. Hetrick, M.Sc. 2006. Vocal
signaling of risk by tufted titmice.
IFAS Extension, University of Florida.
Michael P. Milleson, M.Sc.
2005.
Modeling mechanisms of arrested succession in south-temperate
rainforest.
Wildlife Disease Biologist at Florida
Field Station -- Wildlife Research (USDA), Gainesville, FL.
Leonard Santisteban, M.Sc. 2001. Use
of sensory cues by selected avian and mammalian nest predators.
Doctoral
Candidate, New Mexico
State University
Matthew Reetz, M.Sc. 2000.
The effects of predator identity and capability on nest defense by
songbirds.
(See
above).
Heather
McPherson, M.Sc. 1999.
Distributional constraints of the ochre-flanked tapaculo, Eugralla paradoxa.
Biologist, Washington State Department of
Natural Resources.
Diana
Swan, M.Sc. 1999. Nesting ecology of three woodpecker species
in north
Biologist,
Brian
D. C. Williams. M.Sc. 1998. Distribution, habitat associations, and
conservation of purple martins breeding in CA.
Faculty with
Gerard
J. McChesney. M.Sc. 1997. Breeding biology of the Brandt’s
cormorant on San Nicolas Island, California.
Biologist with USFWS in
B.Sc.
– Honors
Scarlett
Howell,
B. Sc. Highest Honors. 2006.
Functionally referential signals in birds.
USFWS
Biologist,
Elizabeth
Farley, B.
Sc. Highest Honors.
Master’s
student,
John Davis, B.Sc. Highest Honors. 2002.
University
Doctoral
Program at U GA; NSF Graduate Fellow.
Justin Gude, B.Sc. Highest Honors. 2000. Assessment
of bird-assisted restoration of south-temperate rainforest.
M.Sc. Montana
State University
(NSF Graduate Fellow); Biologist with State of Montana
Kimberly
L. Maute, B.Sc. Honors. 1999. Forest boundary crossing by mobbing
passerines.
Doctoral student in
John
P. Justus, B.Sc. Honors. 1998.
Nest predation pressures along inherent oak-pine forest boundaries.
Attending
Gary
M. Langham. B.Sc. Honors. 1995. Pishing and Parids: a holarctic scolding
homology.
Lead scientist and Director of
Conservation for Audubon of California.
President of Neotropical Grassland
Conservancy (http://www.conservegrassland.org/ngc_staff.htm).