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I am an evolutionary and population ecologist with broad interests in applying basic theory, empirical data, and quantitative approaches to understand the evolution of life history strategies and population dynamics in changing environments. While my work is grounded in basic theory and seeks to advance understanding of population ecology and life history evolution, I also aim to provide actionable information for conservation and management. Much of my research focuses on birds, but I am interested in processes that shape populations regardless of taxonomy.
James C. Mouton Postdoctoral Fellow Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Institution Email: james (at) moutons (dot) org |
News
8/4/2020: A couple new papers just got accepted and I'm exciting they will finally be out in the world. First, our study examining behavioral responses to drought in Malaysia should be available soon in Nature Climate Change. We show that longer-lived, but not shorter-lived songbird species reduce breeding during droughts and gain in survival. These behavioral responses allowed longer-lived species to buffer the effects of drought on long-term population growth to a greater degree than shorter-lived species.
Second, my chapter examining how nest predation risk shapes the habitat selection, flight performance and survival in young birds after they leave the nest is now in press with Functional Ecology. And finally, our study of anti-predator behavior of incubating birds will be out soon in Ecology Letters. Juan Oteyza (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) and I used robotic hawk mounts to test responses in 40 species in Malaysia, South Africa, and Arizona (USA) to show stronger responses in relatively smaller and shorter-lived species.
Second, my chapter examining how nest predation risk shapes the habitat selection, flight performance and survival in young birds after they leave the nest is now in press with Functional Ecology. And finally, our study of anti-predator behavior of incubating birds will be out soon in Ecology Letters. Juan Oteyza (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) and I used robotic hawk mounts to test responses in 40 species in Malaysia, South Africa, and Arizona (USA) to show stronger responses in relatively smaller and shorter-lived species.
6/18/2020: Riccardo Ton, always true to his word, just submitted the long awaited Montana Game Bird manuscript. Classic theory, Montana landscapes, and data collection have never been more rewarding. Fingers crossed!
5/29/2020: We were invited by Proceedings of the Royal Society B to submit a review examining a novel hypothesis for how maternal hormones shape offspring development! Renee Duckworth and I will be pulling from recent work in biological fields as disparate as behavioral ecology, developmental neurobiology, and psychiatric pharmacology to understand the developmental actions of maternal steroids and their ecological and evolutionary implications.
2/5/2020: Check out this article on the Montana eBird site highlighting our recent article in Functional Ecology!
1/28/2020: Our new paper is now out and available in Ecology Letters! We show that resting metabolic rate does not explain variation in adult survival across latitudes. See what else Andy Boyce is cooking up here.
1/17/2020: Just heard The Nature Conservancy has provided funding for me to join Scott Sillett at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Camron Ghalambor from Colorado State University to help inform management on Channel Islands National Park. A proposal has been made to reintroduce Island Scrub Jays to Santa Rosa Island. However, since the birds and lizards on Santa Rosa have not experienced predation by the jays, they may be naive to the risk jays pose and there is concern about how a jay reintroduction would impact their populations. We will assess the implications of such a reintroduction on animal populations using census data and experiments. Super excited to join the team and get to work!
12/18/2019: Excited to be joining the Duckworth Lab at the University of Arizona for the next 6 months! I will be working to develop a protocol for measuring yolk steroids with their new UHPLC and finishing up research we've been working on.