Capstone Research Projects

Most invertebrate or vertebrate capstone projects interest me. My expertise is with birds and mammals, so I am probably best suited to work on avian and mammalian projects. Animal behavior and conservation issues are my favorite areas. Still, I will consider any wildlife species or project.

I see the capstone project as a process, a mentoring experience, a research experience, and a product that contributes to our knowledge of wildlife. Students who work on a capstone with me should be willing to engage in a collaborative process and learn about research. An integral part of research is communicating results. Therefore, I also encourage students to present their results at professional conferences and symposiums such as The American Society of Mammalogists, The Adirondack Research Consortium, or the Northeast Natural History Conference.

For capstone ideas, see the Fisheries and Wildlife capstone page.

My capstone students' projects

	Identifying Forest Type Selection in Three Vermont Owl Species; Aegolius acadius, Strix varia, and Bubo virginianus, using audio playback methods. Wes Butler (in progress, to finish by spring 2009)
	How do microhabitats affect habitat usage of mustelids? Steve Dancho (in progress, to finish by spring 2009)
	Partitioning Time and Space: Observing and Comparing foraging behavior of black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) and dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) Michelle Clark (in progress, to finish by spring 2009)
	Barrier effects on Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus and G. volans) Dispersal. Eric Holt (in progress, to finish by spring 2009)
	Comparison of Two Hair Snares for Mammals in Honeoye, New York Sara Nebelecky. Spring 2008.
	What are the Attitudes and Perceptions of Environmental Conservation Officers and Forest Rangers on the Effects of Black Bear Management and Educating the Public on the Number and Type of Human Bear Interactions? Sylvia Patoine. Spring 2008.
	HSI for moose in NY and VT. Jeff Whipple. Spring 2008.
	Bird Community Composition in Pine and Northern Hardwood Stands at Seney National Wildlife Refuge Julia Polasik. Spring 2008.
	Management plan for brook trout in NY. Brandon Moser. Spring 2008.
	Effects of Kestrel Boxes on Other Species during the Non-Breeding Season in Franklin County, New York. Steve Arndt. Spring 2008.
	The effects of food on chipmunk populations. Emily Schultz. Fall 2007.
	Validating Habitat Suitability Index models For Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis). Bill Richards. Spring 2007.
	Effects of vegetation quality on black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) territory size and reproductive success. Christine Roy, Fall 2006
	Feeding and foraging habits of gray squirrels (Scirius carolinensis) in suburban and natural environments. John O'Bryan, Fall 2006.
	Habitat Suitability for the eastern wild turkey in the Adirondack Park: Hard Mast is not a limiting factor during winter months. Emily Albright. Spring, 2006.
	The use of track index stations to assess small mammal diversity in second-growth and old-growth forests in the Adirondacks. Tim Paddock. Spring, 2006.

updated May 2008 back to Jorie's home page