Hannah Beyl, PhD Student

I am interested in understanding how hormones mediate reproductive decisions. Specifically, I investigate mechanisms responsible behind nest abandonment decisions in birds. Stress during reproduction causes physiological changes that help an organism deal with the stressor. For some individuals that means abandonment of the nesting attempt.  I seek to understand the interplay of two hormones, corticosterone and prolactin, and their role in abandonment propensity. My research takes place on a House Sparrow population at the MPG Ranch in Florence, MT.  I take blood samples from incubating House Sparrows and monitor abandonment propensity. In addition, we are doing a large scale nest box monitoring project for all native species to help influence ranch management decisions. 

Contact

hannah.beyl@umconnect.umt.edu

Office: Natural Science 105