People | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.

The Wright Behavior Lab

Wright Lab group photo outside the north entrance of Foster Hall

Left to Right:

Fourth Row - Victor Baquera

Third Row - 3 Chloe Lieberman, Grace Salmon

Second Row - Coral Matos-Sepulveda, Jules Diaz, Alondra Villalba

Front Row - Luis Tarango, Dylan Osterhaus, Whitney Watson, Tim Wright

Dr. Timothy F. Wright
Principal Investigator (CV PDF)
(575) 646-1136 | wright@nmsu.edu | Google Scholar
Ph.D.: University of California San Diego
B.A. Dartmouth College
Post-doctoral work: University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institution

Evolution of vocal learning and communication signals

I am broadly interested in the evolution of vocal learning and communication signals. Much of my work has focused on the parrots because of their well-developed learning abilities and the interesting contrasts they pose in behavior, ecology, and life history patterns to the better-known songbirds. One primary area of interest is describing vocal repertoires in selected parrot species and investigating cultural patterns of geographic variation known as vocal dialects. This work has included field studies of parrots, and sometimes hummingbirds, throughout the Neotropics. Another area of interest is broader evolutionary patterns using molecular phylogenies to investigate questions regarding life history, longevity, and mitochondrial genome evolution. A third area of interest is the neural and endocrine mechanisms underlying vocal learning, approached primarily through lab-based studies of the budgerigar. Finally, the serious conservation issues faced by parrots inform much of the work my students and I do, including both conservation-oriented research and educational and outreach efforts.

Dr. Jodie Jawor
Affiliate Scientist
jjawor@nmsu.edu

My research interests lie in behavioral endocrinology which allows me to ask both proximate (how) and ultimate (why) questions regarding behaviors in non-human animals. Basically, I’m asking what is the benefit to the individuals showing this behavior in terms of longevity or reproductive success and how is the behavior facilitated physiologically? My research is focused in the area of endocrinology and largely on the steroid hormones (e.g., testosterone, corticosterone) and how these hormones impact behaviors such as aggression and parental care, or aspects of appearance that impact reproductive success, such as plumage coloration in birds. While in the Wright lab I have been investigating the actions of the hormone corticosterone on vocal learning in adult Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates) as individuals navigate new social situations which can cause ‘stress’. Recently I’ve begun investigating eco-immunology and migration using various sparrow species overwintering in the Las Cruces area.

Brian Ramos Güivas
PhD student
brianrg@nmsu.edu
M.A. University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez 2013
B.S. University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez 1999

My interest in research is on applied behavior and physiology for conservation. Mainly focused on the reproduction aspect of monogamous parrot species. For my Ph.D., I am studying how glucocorticoids, vocalization, and parental care strategies relate to reproductive success in an endangered parrot species. I think that the more we know about the species we are trying to save the better the chances of success. My model species is the Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata), a critically endangered species. The program for the recuperation of the species provided an excellent platform to test the different aspects of my interest and an opportunity to compare different populations and the effect of captivity on reproductive success.

Alondra Villalba
PhD student
alondra5@nmsu.edu
B.S Biology, Northern New Mexico College

Research Interests: Vocal learning, chronic stress, early life stress, physiological stress response, glucocorticoids.

I am interested in better understanding how chronic stress affects vocal learning using the budgerigar, a small parrot, capable of learning new vocalizations during its entire life. I am especially interested in investigating how early life stress impacts an individual’s ability to cope with chronic stress experienced later in life. Birds share highly conserved learning pathways with humans, therefore our studies will aid in improving our understanding of how chronic stress affects adult language learning in humans.

Dylan Osterhaus
PhD Candidate
dylano@nmsu.edu
M.S. (Fisheries Biology) Iowa State University, 2021
B.S. (Biology) Emporia State University, 2019
ResearchGate Website

My research focuses on the implications of anthropogenic alteration of the natural environment for a variety of taxonomic groups including fishes, birds, and mammals. At NMSU, my project documents the interaction of migrating birds with artificial light at night at a fine scale using acoustic analysis of flight calls and the quantification of migration using weather radar. I am measuring migration traffic using large datasets of acoustic recordings analyzed with machine learning algorithms for nocturnal flight call classification. With help from collaborators from the Department of Defense, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Colorado State University, we will evaluate whether migrating birds are attracted to small sources of artificial light at night in otherwise dark environments. Additionally, I am interested in using weather radar to examine how anthropogenic alterations of water availability in river corridors of the American West may be altering stopover use by migrating birds.

Scott Boyle
PhD Student
sboyle@nmsu.edu
Advisors: Dr. James Cain, Dr. Timothy Wright, and Dr. Fitsum Abadi Gebreselassie
B.S. Colorado State University, 2018

My research interest includes applied wildlife management and conservation of terrestrial wildlife and quantitative ecology. I am specifically interested in furthering our knowledge of habitat selection, predator-prey theory, population modeling, spatial ecology, animal behavior, and the incorporation of Bayesian statistical models.

Whitney Watson
PhD Student
M.S. (Wildlife Ecology) University of Wisconsin – Madison; B.A. (Biology) Macalester College

I am broadly interested in spatial and population ecology of avian species as it pertains to wildlife conservation. Currently, I am investigating the ecology of rosy-finches in northern New Mexico using long term datasets in collaboration with USFWS, NMDFG, and Rio Grande Bird Research LLC. I aim to estimate survival and abundance using mark-recapture data, evaluate RFID technology as a monitoring tool, and use stable isotope techniques to examine migration and trophic ecology of rosy-finches.

Alexander Allison
MS student
Honors B.S. (Biology) University of Massachusetts – Amherst, 2022
xangrey@nmsu.edu

Research Interests: Conservation and biodiversity action, avian communication, land management, environmental education

I am passionate about the ability of birds to ignite conservation research. My current work focuses on the critically endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus), a flagship species in Central and South America with important roles in both ecological and social spheres. This species is declining throughout its range, and little is known about natal dispersal, a particularly vulnerable life-stage. To fill this knowledge gap, I am examining how juveniles spatially integrate into local populations post-fledging. Additionally, I aim to describe patterns of vocal development and variation in the species, which may have important implications for future reintroductions. My work is conducted in northern Costa Rica in collaboration with two local conservation NGOs, the Macaw Recovery Network and Ara Manzanillo.

Juliemar Cuevas-Hernandez
MS Student
B.S. (Biology) University of Florida, 2022

My broad interests include avian ecology and conservation. I am planning to study the diet and habitat of grassland birds in the Chihuahuan Desert. My work will mostly be focused on the Jornada Experimental Range during the fall and winter. Not much research has been conducted on avian ecology during the nonbreeding season in the Chihuahuan Desert, so I am excited for my project.

Coral Matos-Sepulveda
MS student
B.A. College of the Atlantic, 2020
coralm@nmsu.edu
coralmatos8@gmail.com

Advisors: Dr. Abby Lawson, Dr. Timothy Wright, and Dr. Dan Collins (USFWS)

My main interests are in waterbird habitat use, migration, and conservation. The M.S. project I will be working on focuses on Mexican ducks and other dabbling ducks use of stock tanks or diked wetlands. The field work will be conducted in southeastern Arizona during the winter months. Selected ducks will be marked with satellite transmitters to better understand their movement patterns. I will also be a part of NMSU’s new Avian Migration Program.

Victor Baquera
Laboratory Technician
vicbaq@nmsu.edu

My research interests include animal behavior and onboard microphone recording of bird calls using microphone backpacks. I am currently working on developing a backpack harness to carry a microphone for use on budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus. This project will allow for higher quality recordings of bird calls with a less intensive set-up. In the future I hope to further my research into developing methods to track birds in three-dimensional space to make gathering social behavior and kinematic data easier.

Amelia Clayshulte Abraham
Laboratory Technician

I earned my B.S. in Genetics from NMSU in 2013, and have since been involved in a variety of projects ranging from meiotic drive in mice to chemical ecology in marine sponges, the latter of which was the focus of my M.S. research at the University of Mississippi (where I also completed my AAUS scientific scuba diver training). In the Wright lab I am working as a technician with the budgerigars looking at neural expression of glucocorticoid receptors and FoxP2, a transcription factor associated with vocal plasticity. Additionally, I am also developing LC-MS protocols to for quantifying neural corticosterone.

Julianna Diaz

Undergraduate Researcher

jkdiaz25@nmsu.edu

Research Statement: In a broad scope, my overall interests lie in conservation initiatives, and better yet how these strategies can be shared with the public in a logical way. I am studying how migration relates to, and subsequently affects, ecoimmunology within avian species. Through this project I hope to gain a comprehensive understanding on how immune systems provide an insight on proper conservation strategies, and more specifically how avian species are especially susceptible to illness due to the process of migration.

Grace Salmon

Undergraduate Researcher

gsalmon@nmsu.edu

Research Statement: I am working in Dr. Wright's lab looking at ecoimmunology in three different migratory sparrow species. My past research experience includes working with birds and small mammals in the Lincoln National Forest and Gila National Forest. Through this opportunity, my hope is to understand more about the differences in immune systems between birds that migrate further distances compared to those that migrate shorter distances.