Analyzing Patterns of Beak Deformity in Wild Birds Populations in North America

Presentation Type

Oral and/or Visual Presentation

Presenter Major(s)

Natural Resource Management

Mentor Information

C. "Griff" Griffin, griffinc@gvsu.edu

Department

Biology

Location

Kirkhof Center 1104

Start Date

13-4-2011 1:00 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 1:30 PM

Keywords

Life Science

Abstract

Birds with beak deformities have been documented throughout the literature, although occurrences are rare and not usually extensive within populations. Sudden emergence of deformities in large clusters of animals may indicate a dramatic change in the ecosystem. The goal of this study is to analyze data on wild populations of birds with beaks deformities and determine potential causes of the problem. This will be accomplished by generating a table of data collected from the literature and conducting statistical analysis to find patterns in occurrence. Susceptibility, influenced by life history traits and habitat features, will be analyzed to compare effect sizes of different variables across studies. The ideal outcome would be to find correlations between these deformities and environmental or physiological triggers. Results will be beneficial in formulating hypotheses in future research on populations with high proportion of individuals with deformed beaks.

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Apr 13th, 1:00 PM Apr 13th, 1:30 PM

Analyzing Patterns of Beak Deformity in Wild Birds Populations in North America

Kirkhof Center 1104

Birds with beak deformities have been documented throughout the literature, although occurrences are rare and not usually extensive within populations. Sudden emergence of deformities in large clusters of animals may indicate a dramatic change in the ecosystem. The goal of this study is to analyze data on wild populations of birds with beaks deformities and determine potential causes of the problem. This will be accomplished by generating a table of data collected from the literature and conducting statistical analysis to find patterns in occurrence. Susceptibility, influenced by life history traits and habitat features, will be analyzed to compare effect sizes of different variables across studies. The ideal outcome would be to find correlations between these deformities and environmental or physiological triggers. Results will be beneficial in formulating hypotheses in future research on populations with high proportion of individuals with deformed beaks.