Student Researchers: Rachel Bettes,
Stefanie Eick, Heather Parks, Daniel Sullivan
I am a behavioral ecologist with a keen interest in ungulates (hoofed mammals). With my students and collaborators, we study how these animals use behavioral strategies to solve problems encountered in their environment. This process of discovery is not only fascinating for its own sake, but also has important applications for wise stewardship of God’s creatures. Past research projects have examined parasite-defense behaviors such as grooming and insect-repelling, sexual segregation (or, why do males and females separate into different groups?), and predation risk in desert bighorn sheep. Presently, my research team is studying plains bison at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in the Sandhills of Nebraska. We integrate intensive fieldwork with fecal steroid lab procedures to assist management and better understand bison reproductive biology. Current topics include the reproductive success and mating strategies of bulls, vocal communication by bellowing, the significance of the female ‘tail-up’ posture, and the behavioral endocrinology of bulls and cows. At the end of the day, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as experiencing the sight, sounds, and smells of North America’s largest native mammal up close and personal!