the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)
Ph.D. Candidate Department of Natural Resource
Ecology & Management 43 Science II Building Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011 U.S.A. Office: (515)294-8419 E-mail: skradepa (at) iastate.edu
Learn about my study species
the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)
For my doctoral research with Dr. Stephen J. Dinsmore I am continuing our long term study of Mountain Plover breeding biology in Phillips County, MT. In the course of my M.S. research I raised several questions concerning the mating system of this species and its unusual behavior where males and females tend to separate nests. I will focus on five decision-related subjects: 1) multi-state modeling of first breeding attempts, 2) nest site selection in relation to egg-crypticism and subsequent nest survival, and mate choice related to 3) circulating prolactin of incubating adults, 4) seasonal changes in egg volume, and 5) parentage and extra-pair paternity.
During the 2012-2013 school year I am serving as a fellow with Symbi, Iowa State University's GK12 program funded by the National Science Foundation. I am teaching 7th grade science in Mrs. Kissell's classroom in Brody Middle School.