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.
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.