Spatial variation in density of organisms can lead to challenges in estimation of population size. Associated vital rates responsible for this variation also may vary geographically and in response to local ecological ...

The principle objective of this investigation was to develop an understanding of the physiological response and ecological aspects of winter torpor of small carnivores, specifically striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in ...

Birds that winter in northern latitudes face challenges associated with cold climates, including reduced food abundance and availability. Additionally, metabolic requirements are greater in colder weather and more food is ...

The bounded-hybrid superiority hypothesis (BHSH) predicts stable hybrid zones are characterized by hybrids having the highest fitness within the zone. The dynamic-equilibrium hypothesis (DEH) predicts hybrids to have the ...

Assessing the effect of winter habitat quality and environmental conditions on the fitness of migratory birds is important to understand factors that regulate migratory bird populations throughout the annual cycle. I ...

Understanding what influences movement patterns in animals is important to the understanding of colonization, range expansion, and source–sink dynamics. Ross’s geese (Chen rossii) have been expanding their nesting range ...

The sexes have different life histories that can influence their parental care strategies. I studied northern flicker, Colaptes auratus, parents and simultaneously radio-tracked mates during the nestling and post-fledging ...

Variation in avian reproductive success (RS) can be influenced by intrinsic traits (e.g., individual quality, physiology and experience) or extrinsic factors (e.g., weather, habitat use, or landscape composition) which can ...

The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a species that has likely benefited from environmental conditions that followed European settlement of North America. As such, the raccoon has experienced vast range expansion during the ...