Julie Heath, Ph.D.

Summary:  Our lab studied how birds are responding to patterns of global change. In particular, we are interested in organismal physiological and behavioral responses that have population-level consequences. Recently, we have been exploring the links between climate change, disease, bird health, and survival and reproduction.

Minimum Courses: N/A

Projects: This summer we will be developing assays for blood parasites in wild American kestrels (a small falcon), and comparing parasite infection between kestrels that migrate and those that remain resident year-round and how disease affect reproductive success. This work will involve trapping and sampling wild birds, PCR for identification of blood parasites, and mass spectrometry for stable isotope work (how we distinguish migration strategies).