BAHS graduate students present research at Central Ecology and Evolution Conference
On April 10, 2021, two graduate students presented aspects of their research projects at the 3rd Central Ecology and Evolution Conference, which was an online conference hosted by graduate students at Oklahoma State University. The venue was a great opportunity for students to present research and receive valuable feedback from peers at similar stages of their career in the discipline.
Mary Bogert presented data from her past field season. Her talk was titled ""Factors influencing female-bias in captures of Northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus)". Her data suggest that the long held idea, that saw-whet owl populations are female dominated, may be due to measurement error in capture methods. She is also interested in the stress level difference exhibited between males and females. A second season of blood collection on these owls should help elucidate any differences.
Morgan Murphy presented her research proposal titled "The importance of wetland habitat for red-winged blackbirds". She plans on addressing important questions about habitat fragmentation, male territoriality, and breeding performance in this wetland habitat indicator species.
Dr. Clay Corbin is Mary and Morgan's thesis advisor.