Graduate Student Research Topics

Current Students

Danial Nayeri

Danial Nayeri

Charlotte Norman

Photo of Charlotte Norman

Tylor Bell Rogers

Photo of Tylor Bell Rogers

Ivonne Romero

photo of Ivonne Romero

Gina Culver

Gina Culver

Whitney Vickers

photo of whitney vickers

Ryan Matilton

Ryan Matilton

Leah Temple Roll

Leah

Alon Averbuj

Alon Averbuj

Jackie Killam

Jordan Stevens

Jordan and his cat

Destiny Saucedo

Photo of Destiny

Brielle Jaglowski

Photo of Brielle

Alyssa Roddy

Photo of Alyssa Roddy

Breana Hernandez

Tiana Williams-Claussen

Tiana Williams-Claussen in the field holding a large bird

Ximena Gil

Jadzia Rodriguez

Eleanor MacDonald

Christian Cortez

Katherine Larson

Elizabeth Meisman

Dabid Garcia

Dabid Garcia

Fatime Jomaa

Breana Hernandez

Logan Hysen

Logan Hysen

Brittany Welch

Brittany Welch

Rebeca Becdach

Rebeca Becdach

Graduated

2024

Janelle Chojnacki, 2024

Thesis: Common Raven Resource Selection, Diet and Behavior around a Threatened Shorebird
Advisor: Barbara Clucas

Janelle

Maddie Ybarra, 2024

Thesis: The effects of native perennial cover on avian physiological indicators of habitat quality in California coastal prairie rangelands.
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Jaime Carlino, 2024

Thesis: Measuring barn owl breeding habitat quality and predicting double brooding
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Jaime Carlino

2023

Laura Echávez, 2023

Thesis: Polymorphism of barn owls in a managed ecosystem
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Laura Echávez

Samantha Chavez, 2023

Thesis: Maximizing the use of a natural avian predator for pest control in an agricultural system
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Samantha Chavez

2022

Jessica Guenther, 2022

Thesis: Do Steller's jays respond to human providers?
Advisor: Jeff Black

Ashley Hansen, 2022

Thesis: Use of an avian predator as a biological control agent in agricultural systems: Do barn owls (Tyto alba) impact rodent abundance in a vineyard setting?
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Ashley Hansen holding an owl

2021

Frank Juma Ong'ondo, 2021

Thesis: Bird abundance and diversity in shade coffee and natural forest in Kenya
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Frank Juma Ong’ondo standing in front of a tree with binoculars in his hands

2020

2019

Claire Nasr, 2019

Thesis: Identifying spatial overlap and seasonal variation between human and seabird use along the Trinidad Coast to better predict timing and location of potential disturbance events
Advisor: Daniel Barton

Claire Nasr

2018

2017

2016

Alexis Dejoannis, 2016

Thesis: A description of pre-alternate molt in snowy plovers.
Advisor: Mark Colwell

2015

Brendan Leigh , 2015

Thesis: Habitat shifts and food intake in American Wigeon Anas americana in winter.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2014

Bryan Daniels , 2014

Thesis: Activity budgets, daily energy expenditure and energetic model of Black Brant Branta bernicla nigricans during winter and spring along the Lower Alaska Peninsula.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2013

Josh Cocke , 2013

Thesis: Observations of Aleutian Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) breeding on Buldir Island, Alaska: forty-seven years after the discovery of a remnant population
Advisor: Jeff Black

2012

Pia Gabriel , 2012

Thesis:  Steller’s jay behavioural syndromes.Technische Universität München, Germany.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2011

2010

Kyle Spragens , 2010

Thesis:  Aleutian goose response to facilitation by livestock grazing regimes in coastal pastures. 
Advisor: Jeff Black

Penny Spiering Becker, 2010

Thesis: The genetics, behaviour and success of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (PhD)
Advisor: Micaela Szykman Gunther

2009

2008

2007

2006

Chris Tonra, 2006

Thesis: Hatching Synchrony in Brown-Headed Cowbirds: The influence of host density, chick gender, and habitat.
Advisor: Matthew Johnson

Chris Tonra bio photo

2005

Anne Mini , 2005

Thesis:  Energetic expenditure of Aleutian Canada geese experiencing different management regimes.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2003

Ken Griggs , 2003

Thesis:  Parental investment in Western Canada geese.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2002

Derek Lee , 2002

Thesis:  Spring stopover of black brant geese at Humboldt Bay, CA.
Advisor: Jeff Black

2000

John Quinn , 2000

Thesis:  Relationship between red-breasted geese and peregrine falcons during the breeding season, Oxford University, England.
Advisor: Jeff Black

1999

Friederike Woog , 1999

Thesis:  Dominance and dispersal of Hawaiian geese, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Advisor: Jeff Black

1995

Glynn Young , 1995

Thesis: The systematic position of Meller's Duck: a behavioural approach, University of Kent, England.
Advisor: Jeff Black

1993

Friederike Woog , 1993

Thesis:  Ecology of Hawaiian geese in habitats of Haleakala National Park, Maui, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Advisor: Jeff Black

1992

Sharmila Choudhury , 1992

Thesis:  Mate choice in barnacle geese, Oxford University.
Advisor: Jeff Black