Jeff Black

Professor

Research Interests

Conservation and management of waterfowl and wetland dependent species. Evolution of social behavior and mating systems (e.g. mate choice, pair bonds, parental care).

I am interested in describing how animals are distributed in space and time, whether through the need of acquiring resources or to avoid competitors/predators, and why some individuals are faithful to mates and territories while others readily take advantage of alternative options. I strive to convey the realization that evolutionary processes acting on individuals drive the distribution and size of wildlife populations. This pursuit includes assessment of the evolution and maintenance of individual attributes like health, stature, experience, personality traits, and secondary sexual characteristics (crests, color patches, etc). My research approach combines theory, experimentation, and long-term field studies, which often includes citizen science volunteers.

Prof Black's Research Pages

Looking for an Honors Thesis or Masters research question?

An Honors thesis or MS thesis focuses on a research question. I coach students who want to pursue questions within the realm of the long-term studies outlined above. Get in touch if you're interested; tell me what you'd like to study and why in the form of a 1-2 page pre-proposal outlining a research question (including problem/phenomenon, hypotheses, methods). Include your resume/Curriculum Vitae and be sure to mention funding sources if you have them. MS applicants will eventually send a formal application to CNRS Graduate Studies if encouraged to do so.

Honors Thesis and MS candidates in the ‘Black Lab’ ask questions from an evolutionary perspective contributing to journals like Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology, Ethology, Journal of Wildlife Management, Northwestern Naturalist, and Wildfowl. See below for a complete list of current and previous student projects and publications.

Education

PhD, Zoology, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK, 1987
Cert. Ed. (Certificate in Education), Hiram College, Ohio, 1982
BA, Biology/Zoology, Hiram College, Ohio, 1982

Honors

Humboldt Medal: Scholar of the Year 2014
Who’s Who in Science & Engineering 2011
FCAS - Fellow, California Academy of Sciences 2009
Full Professorship, Humboldt State University 2003
DSc - Doctorate of Science, University of Wales, Cardiff 2001
Outstanding Contribution to Humanity Award: Hiram College 1995

Areas of Interest

Welcome back Aleutian Cackling Geese (1:42)
North Coast Otters - Public Arts Initiaitve (1:00)
BBC's take on our Steller's Jays (1:45)

Courses Taught

WLDF 210 - Intro to Wildlife Conservation & Administration

WLDF 309 - Case Studies in Environmental Ethics

WLDF 311 - Wildlife Techniques

WLDF 420 - Wildlife Ecology & Management (Waterfowl)

WLDF 475 - Wildlife Ethology

WLDF 490/495 - Field Problems (Senior Thesis) & Honors Thesis

WLDF 580 - Behavioral Ecology

Current Graduate Students

Name	Thesis
Charlotte Norman	Proposed thesis topic: Occurence and function of River Otter groups, including families (moms, pups, and "helpers") and all adult groups. A variety of behaviors will be described, including group foraging, playing, preening, resting, and contributions to scanning for competitors/predators (... Read Charlotte's bio
Tylor Bell Rogers	Thesis topic: Quantifying the "domain of danger" for Buffleheads at the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. The focus will be on describing foraging patterns and space use of Buffleheads in relation to predation risk from River Otters.Began Fall 2024.
Ivonne Romero	Behavior and distribution of tundra and trumpeter swans wintering in Skagit valley, WA, USA Exploring activity patterns and movements of tundra and trumpetor swans wintering in Skagit valley, WA, USA Began Spring 2023.
Gina Culver	North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) seasonal prey selection of waterbirds based on availability and vulnerability This study will build on previous and ongoing research aimed at understanding prey selection of waterbirds by river otters and patch level predation pressure within wetland marshes on the shores of Humboldt Bay, California. Based on the seasonal abundance hypothesis we will investigate whether... Read Gina's bio
Whitney Vickers	Using Genetic Analysis to Determine Kinship and Sociality Among River Otters Along the Humboldt County Coast, California Exploring river otter social groups and numbers in Humboldt Bay. Began Summer/Fall 2023.

Former Graduate Students

Name	Thesis
Shaun Thornton 2023	A return to the staging grounds : reassessment of Aleutian cackling goose spring distribution in north Humboldt Bay Despite this dramatic population increase since the last management plan was implemented there may be less complaints with farmers saying that the geese have been ‘distributing themselves’ evenly on the landscape without the need for hazing. This study aims to describe the spatial and temporal... Read Shaun Thornton's bio
Brian Fagundes 2022	Estimating the ecosystem service of Aleutian cackling goose droppings on pastures Approach: A greenhouse experiment was conducted from February-August 2019 at Cal Poly Humboldt, divided into two experiments: freshly sown ryegrass pasture system and established plant and soil communities removed intact directly from pastures. Fresh goose droppings were added at different... Read Brian Fagundes 's bio
Jessica Guenther 2022	Do Steller's jays respond to human providers? Overview: Corvids, primates, and various other species recognize human’s eye gaze, postures and actions.Steller’s jays sometimes arrive before we started feeding and followed us to the next location.Do Steller’s jays recognize and respond to cues when humans provide supplemental food?... Read Jessica Guenther's bio
Jessica Barger 2021	Barger, JL 2021. Merging Art and Science : Lessons Learned from an ‘Otterly’ Different Case Study . Humboldt State University Currently working with Cal Trans mitigation team. Wildlife Biologist.
Kachina Rowland 2020	Rowland, KL 2020. The Rattle Call : a Female-Specific Vocalization in Steller’s Jays . Humboldt State University Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Consultant
Matt Delgado 2019	Achromatic plumage patch quality: internal organ and skeletal correlates in Aleutian cackling geese (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
Elizabeth Morata 2018	Seasonal home range variation and spatial ecology of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in coastal Humboldt County, CA GIS Specialist III, Division of Wildlife, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Genevieve Rozhon 2018	Sex-specific habitat selection of rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagopus) wintering in western North America Environmental Consultant, Wildlife Biologist
Kelly Commons 2017	Mobbing behavior in wild Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) Wildlife Biologist
Trinity Tippin 2017	Propensity of predator mimicry in wild Steller's jays Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Derek Harvey 2015	Innovative problem solving in wild Steller's jays Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Medford, OR
Brendan Leigh 2015	Habitat shifts and food intake in American Wigeon Anas americana in winter. Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service (Refuges)
Bryan Daniels 2014	Activity budgets, daily energy expenditure and energetic model of Black Brant Branta bernicla nigricans during winter and spring along the Lower Alaska Peninsula. Waterfowl Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
Josh Cocke 2013	Observations of Aleutian Cackling Geese (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia) breeding on Buldir Island, Alaska: forty-seven years after the discovery of a remnant population Wildlife Biologist, US Forest Service
Betsy Elkinton 2013	Foraging and energy acquisition by black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on South Humboldt Bay, California Math/Science Teacher, Redwood Coast Montessori, Arcata, CA
Will Goldenberg 2013	Steller’s jay space use and behavior in campground and non-campground sites within Redwood National and State Parks Natural history cinematographer, www.willgoldenberg.com, Arcata, CA
Katlin Overeem 2013	Extra-pair paternity and sexual selection in the Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) STEM Collaborative Program Coordinator, Humboldt
Pia Gabriel 2012	Steller’s jay behavioural syndromes.Technische Universität München, Germany. Pre-grant Specialist, Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation
Christina Rockwell 2011	Bolder, older, and selective: factors of individual-specific foraging strategies in Steller's jays Biologist, Environmental Consultant
Jen Terry Zalewski 2011	Ecological factors influencing stress in northern river otters (Lontra canadensis) Biologist, Environmental Consultant
Jeff Zirpoli 2011	Parasites and plumage: an experimental field test of the parasite-mediated handicap hypothesis Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Consultant
Kyle Spragens 2010	Aleutian goose response to facilitation by livestock grazing regimes in coastal pastures. Waterfowl Section Manager, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Chris West 2009	Vigilance in reintroduced California condors: the impact of early-rearing experience. Wildlife Biologist, Yurok Tribe, Klamath, CA
Dominic Bachman 2008	Managing grassland pastures at Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge for Aleutian geese Aquatic Health Coordinator, High Desert Partnership; Previously, Wildlife Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service (Refuges)
Susannah Ferson 2008	Manipulation of food quality and quantity by black brant geese Division Director, Natural Resources Services (NRS), Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), Eureka, CA
Emily Bjerre 2007	Optimal grit : investigating grit acquisition and site use by black brant Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Anne Mini 2005	Energetic expenditure of Aleutian Canada geese experiencing different management regimes. PhD Oregon State; now Science Coordinator, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture
Ken Griggs 2003	Parental investment in Western Canada geese. Refuge Manager, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Jeff Moore 2003	Distribution of spring staging black brant Branta bernicla nigricans in relation to feeding opportunities on south Humboldt Bay, California PhD Purdue; now Program Lead, California Current Marine Mammal Assessment, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Derek Lee 2002	Spring stopover of black brant geese at Humboldt Bay, CA. PhD, Dartmouth, co-director of Wild Nature Institute
John Quinn 2000	Relationship between red-breasted geese and peregrine falcons during the breeding season, Oxford University, England. Professor of Zoology, University College Cork, Ireland http://research.ucc.ie/profiles/D026/jquinn
Friederike Woog 1999	Dominance and dispersal of Hawaiian geese, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Ornithology Curator, Stuttgart Museum for Nature, Germany
Glynn Young 1995	The systematic position of Meller's Duck: a behavioural approach, University of Kent, England. Biologist, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, England
Friederike Woog 1993	Ecology of Hawaiian geese in habitats of Haleakala National Park, Maui, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Ornithology Curator, Stuttgart Museum for Nature, Germany
Sharmila Choudhury 1992	Mate choice in barnacle geese, Oxford University. Natural History Film Maker; Humble Bee Films, Bristol, UK

Publications

2024

Harvey T, Gabriel P, Black JM 2024. Propensity of predator mimicry in Steller’s jays. Birds 5:173-189.

https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5010012

Prop J, Black JM, Aars J, Oudman T, Wolters E, Moe B 2024. Land-based foraging by polar bears reveals sexual conflict outside mating season. Scientific Reports 14:20275. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71258-w

2023

Rose T, Vickers WE, Cardenas SA, Black JM 2023. North American River Otter diet includes invasive Sacramento Pikeminnow and herpetofauna on South Fork Eel River, Northern California. Northwestern Naturalist 104:229-241.

2022

Black JM 2022. North Coast Otters - public arts initiative: a commemorative auction catalog, September 2021. Cal Poly Humboldt Press, Arcata, CA, USA. Download.

Burris WM, Kinziger AP, Black JM and Brown RN 2022. Knemidokoptes mites and their effects on gripping position of the feet of Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 58:859-868.

1997

Black, JM 1997. Branta leucopsis. Barnacle goose. BWP Update, Volume 1, 175-182.

Black JM, Marshall AP, Gilburn A, Santos N, Howside H, Medeiros J, Mello J, Natividad Hodges C, Katahira L 1997. Survival, movements and breeding of Hawaiian geese: an assessment of the reintroduction program. Journal of Wildlife Management 61, 1161-1173.

1996

Black JM (ed) 1996. Partnerships in birds. The study of monogamy. Oxford University Press. pp. 420.

Black JM 1996. Introduction: pair bonds and partnerships. In: Partnerships in birds. The study of monogamy. (Ed. JM Black) pp. 3-20. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Black JM 1996. The snow geese of La Perouse Bay. Natural selection in the wild. By F Cooke, RF Rockwell & DB Lank. Animal Behaviour 52, 214-215.

Black JM, Choudhury S & Owen M 1996. Do geese benefit from life-long monogamy? In: Partnerships in birds. The study of monogamy. (Ed. JM Black) pp. 91-117. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Choudhury S, Black JM & Owen M 1996. Body size, compatibility and fitness in barnacle geese. Ibis 138, 175-183.

Ens BJ, Choudhury S & Black JM 1996. Mate fidelity and divorce in birds. In: Partnerships in birds. The study of monogamy. (Ed. JM Black) pp. 344-401. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Hunter J & Black JM 1996 . Conservation action for red-breasted geese. In: Globally threatened birds in Europe: Action Plans. (Eds. B Heredia, L Rose & M Painter) pp. 79-88. Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg.

Tombre IM, Erikstad KE, Gabrielsen GW, Strann K-B and Black JM 1996. Body condition and spring migration in high arctic barnacle geese. Wildlife Biology 2, 247-251.

1995

Bailey T & Black JM 1995. Parasites of wild and captive Nene Branta sandvicensis in Hawaii. Wildfowl 46, 59-65.

Bigot E, Hausberger M & Black JM 1995. Exuberant youth: the example of triumph ceremonies in barnacle geese. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution 7, 11-25.

Black JM 1995. The Nene recovery initiative: research against extinction. Ibis 137, S153-S160.

Black JM & Owen M 1995. Reproductive performance and assortative pairing in relation to age in barnacle geese. Journal of Animal Ecology 64, 234-244.

1994

Black JM & Banko PC 1994. Is the Hawaiian goose saved from extinction? In: Creative Conservation - the interface between captive and wild animals , Ed. PJS Olney, GM Mace & ATC Feistner, pp.394-410. Chapman & Hall, London.

Black JM, Prop J, Hunter J, Woog F, Marshall AP and Bowler JM 1994. Foraging behaviour and energetics of the Hawaiian goose Branta sandvicensis. Wildfowl 45, 65-109.

Choudhury C & Black JM 1994. Barnacle geese preferentially pair with familiar associates from early life. Animal Behaviour 48, 81-88.

Hausberger M, Richard JP, Black JM & Quirs R 1994. Quantitative analysis of individuality in barnacle goose loud calls. Bioacustics 5, 247-260.

Rave L, Fleischer RC, Duvall F & Black JM 1994. Genetic analysis through DNA fingerprinting of captive populations of Hawaiian geese. Conservation Biology 8, 744-751.

1993

Bell MC, Fox AD, Owen M, Black JM & Walsh AJ 1993. Approaches to estimation of survival in two arctic-nesting goose species. In: Marked individuals in the study of bird population dynamics (eds J-D Lebreton & PM North) pp. 141-155, Basal: Birkhauser Verlag.

Choudhury S & Black JM 1993. Mate choice strategies in geese: evidence for a "partner-hold" strategy. Animal Behaviour 46, 747-757.

Choudhury C, Jones C, Black JM & Prop J 1993. Adoption of young and intraspecific nest parasitism barnacle geese. Condor 95, 860-868.

Green A, Black JM & Ellis-Joseph S 1993. Conservation planning for globally threatened Anseriforms. In: Waterfowl and wetland conservation in the 1990s - a global perspective (eds. M Moser, RC Prentice and J van Vessem), IWRB Special Publication 26, 128-133.