Robert L. Curry

Robert L. Curry
Villanova University | Nova · Department of Biology

Ph.D.

About

88
Publications
19,089
Reads
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2,243
Citations
Introduction
My primary research program concerns the behavioral and evolutionary ecology of the northward-moving hybrid zone between Black-capped and Carolina chickadees. A component of the work focuses on personality and behavioral syndromes. My students and I also study the ecology of the ant-acacia jumping spider _Bagheera kiplingi_, the only known herbivorous spider (so far!). A third research area concerns conservation and behavioral ecology of tropical songbirds, especially island-endemic Mimidae.
Additional affiliations
January 1991 - present
Villanova University
Position
  • Professor (Full)
October 1987 - November 1990
Archbold Biological Station
Position
  • PostDoc Position
January 1987 - August 1987
University of Michigan
Position
  • Research Associate

Publications

Publications (88)
Article
Studies of hybrid zone dynamics often investigate a single sampling period and draw conclusions from that temporal snapshot. Stochasticity can, however, result in loci with spurious outlier patterns, which is exacerbated by limited temporal or geographic sampling. Comparing admixed populations from different geographic regions is one way to detect...
Article
The interaction between sibling species that share a zone of contact is a multifaceted relationship affected by climate change [1, 2]. Between sibling species, interactions may occur at whole-organism (direct or indirect competition) or genomic (hybridization and introgression) levels [3-5]. Tracking hybrid zone movements can provide insights about...
Article
Spiders are thought to be strict predators. We describe a novel exception: Bagheera kiplingi, a Neotropical jumping spider (Salticidae) that exploits a well-studied ant-plant mutualism, is predominantly herbivorous. From behavioral field observations and stable-isotope analyses, we show that the main diet of this host-specific spider comprises spec...
Article
Published accounts of the Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) on Isla Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, date back at least 72 years, yet there exists no evidence in the literature of the species breeding on the island. Here we report the first scientific descriptions of nesting by Common Pauraque on Cozumel. During fieldwork in 2008 and 2009, we...
Article
Full-text available
The frequency of extra‐pair paternity (EPP) varies widely across socially monogamous birds, but the proximate mechanisms driving this variation remain unclear. In this study, we tested two major factors hypothesized to influence extra‐pair mating – breeding density and genetic diversity – by comparing genetic mating patterns in two populations of b...
Data
These data accompany the publication LaPergola, J.B., C. Riehl, J.E. Martínez-Gómez, B. Roldán-Clarà, and R.L. Curry. 2022. Extra-pair paternity correlates with genetic diversity, but not breeding density, in a Neotropical passerine, the Black Catbird. Journal of Avian Biology. Accepted. DOI: 10.1111/jav.03034 Specific data include: - SNP genotypes...
Article
Hybridization often occurs at the parapatric range interface between closely related species, but fitness outcomes vary: hybrid offspring exhibit diverse rates of viability and reproduction compared with their parental species. The mobile hybrid zone between two chickadee congeners (Poecile atricapillus × Poecile carolinensis) has been well studied...
Article
Full-text available
We report the first definitive Mexican breeding records of the range-restricted Yucatan Vireo (Vireo magister). We discovered two V. magister nests in July and August 2009 in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (near Tulum) and one nest on Isla Cozumel in June 2009. We observed two possible additional V. magister nests with eggs in Sian Ka’an in 2009, one...
Article
Full-text available
Within animal hybrid zones, parasites may determine competitive outcomes between host species and thus affect hybridization dynamics. We addressed this hypothesis by evaluating haemosporidian prevalence and community composition in a rapidly moving hybrid zone between Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina Chickadees (P. caroli...
Article
Full-text available
Collisions with buildings cause up to 1 billion bird fatalities annually in the United States and Canada. However, efforts to reduce collisions would benefit from studies conducted at large spatial scales across multiple study sites with standardized methods and consideration of species‐ and life‐history‐related variation and correlates of collisio...
Article
Full-text available
The study of hybrid zones can provide insight into the genetic basis of species differences that are relevant for the maintenance of reproductive isolation. Hybrid zones can also provide insight into climate change, species distributions, and evolution. The hybrid zone between black‐capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina chickadees (...
Preprint
Full-text available
The West Indian avifauna has provided fundamental insights into island biogeography, taxon cycles, and the evolution of avian behavior. Our interpretations, however, rely on robust hypotheses of evolutionary relationships and consistent conclusions about taxonomic status in groups with many endemic island populations. Here we present a phylogenetic...
Poster
A description of my preliminary findings of haemosporidian diversity among Black-capped Chickadees, Carolina Chickadees, and hybrids between these two species in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Article
Characteristics of buildings and land cover surrounding buildings influence the number of bird-window collisions, yet little is known about whether bird-window collisions are associated with urbanization at large spatial scales. We initiated a continent-wide study in North America to assess how bird-window collision mortality is influenced by build...
Poster
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology facilitates study of many bird behaviors, but safety merits scrutiny. We investigated effects of gluing 12 mm x 2 mm passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to color bands on annual survival of adult Carolina Chickadees. In one population (GM) we attached PIT tags to nearly all breeding chickadees...
Poster
When species co-occur, behavioral differences between them may dictate the outcome of ecological and reproductive interactions. Exploratory behavior is an ecologically relevant measure of behavior associated with speed-accuracy tradeoffs: slow explorers are more thorough. We measured the exploratory behavior of wild Carolina and Black-capped chicka...
Poster
Exploratory behavior is a frequently studied component of animal personality. European ornithologists have developed a standardized aviary approach for use with passerines. Accumulated research using this protocol has shown that Great Tit exploratory behavior is repeatable, heritable, and strongly correlated with other behavioral and demographic va...
Article
Songs of the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) vary throughout the species' geographic range. The aim of this study was to investigate quantitatively the repertoires of individual Carolina Chickadees in southeastern Pennsylvania. Previous qualitative work in the same region identified two song types produced with different degrees of consis...
Article
Full-text available
We report the first description of the nest, eggs, and nesting phenology of the Cozumel Vireo (Vireo bairdi), a passerine species endemic to Isla Cozumel, México. We discovered three nests of this species in 2009. These open-cup nests were woven onto branches and hung beneath forks. Clutch size was 2–3 eggs, and eggs were ovate and had a white grou...
Chapter
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Chapter
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Article
The mockingbirds, thrashers and allied birds in the family Mimidae are broadly distributed across the Americas. Many aspects of their phylogenetic history are well established, but there has been no previous phylogenetic study that included all species in this radiation. Our reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence markers sh...
Article
Full-text available
Few descriptions exist of the nesting behavior of the Gray Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis), and the only nest description of this species seems incongruent with what is known about nesting behavior of other species of Mimidae. We report the first definitively described nest of the Gray Trembler in St. Lucia, West Indies in June–July 2007. We ob...
Article
Full-text available
Arising from M. A. Nowak, C. E. Tarnita & E. O. Wilson 466, 1057-1062 (2010); Nowak et al. reply. Nowak et al. argue that inclusive fitness theory has been of little value in explaining the natural world, and that it has led to negligible progress in explaining the evolution of eusociality. However, we believe that their arguments are based upon a...
Article
Full-text available
Based on physiognomic criteria and a cluster analysis based on 90 plots (14 in prairie and grassland, 35 in shrubs, 38 in forest and 3 in secondary vegetation) we classified the vegetation of Socorro Island. In addition to coastal halophytes, we found evidence supporting eight primary vegetation types: Conocarpus shrubby vegetation, grassland, prai...
Article
Full-text available
Con base en la fisonomía y en un análisis de clasificación de 90 parcelas (14 en pradera y pastizal, 35 en matorral, 38 en bosque y 3 en vegetación secundaria) se clasificó la vegetación de Isla Socorro. Además de las agrupaciones de halófitos costeros existen elementos que permiten distinguir ocho asociaciones vegetales primarias: matorral de Cono...
Chapter
Full-text available
This chapter summarizes information from studies on the hybrid zone between black-capped and Carolina chickadees in southeastern Pennsylvania. The focus is on patterns of vocal variation in relation to among- and within-population genetic variation. Primary questions that are addressed include: the song and call types produced within this hybrid zo...
Article
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North American Parids are excellent organisms for research on the evolution of avian reproductive behavior, and how these are influenced by intra- and interspecific interactions. As cavity-nesting birds, they exhibit high reproductive success and populations of most Parid species exist in high numbers throughout their range. As social birds, their...
Article
Full-text available
Analysis of the structure and stability of a hybrid zone can serve as a starting point for examining mechanisms that infl uence spatial and evolutionary relationships between species. Recent studies of the hybrid zone between Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina Chickadee (P. carolinensis) have suggested that genetic introgres...
Article
Full-text available
To reduce predation risk, animals must employ effective predator-detection strategies. Many species rely on prior experience, or learning, to detect predation risk, but this strategy is ineffective when exposed to an unfamiliar potential predator. Many species, however, exhibit an innate response to potential predator species but to our knowledge,...
Article
Analysis of the structure and stability of a hybrid zone can serve as a starting point for examining mechanisms that influence spatial and evolutionary relationships between species. Recent studies of the hybrid zone between Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina Chickadee (P. carolinensis) have suggested that genetic introgress...
Article
Full-text available
Evolutionary radiations of colonists on archipelagos provide valuable insight into mechanisms and modes of speciation. The apparent diversification of Galapagos mockingbirds (Nesomimus) provoked Darwin's initial conception of adaptive radiation, but the monophyly of this historically important exemplar has not been evaluated with molecular data. Ad...
Article
Full-text available
The dynamics of hybrid zones are likely to be influenced greatly by patterns of mate choice, including "cryptic" choice mediated through extrapair copulations. To understand changes in hybrid zones over time and space, a detailed examination of mating patterns and correlates is needed. We studied the role of extrapair fertilizations (EPFs) in the b...
Article
The population size of the Socorro Mockingbird Mimodes graysoni, which represents a monotypic genus endemic to Socorro Island, México, has declined dramatically within the last 40 years. Postulated causal factors include competitive exclusion by Northern Mockingbirds Mimus polyglottos, predation by feral cats and overgrazing by feral sheep. Habitat...
Article
Champion and Gardner are the only two satellite islands of Floreana in the Galápagos archipelago that support populations of the Floreana mockingbird, Nesomimus trifasciatus. The population on the much larger island of Floreana became extinct approximately 125 years ago. We studied the Champion population in every year from 1980 to 1991. Since the...
Article
Full-text available
The Socorro Mockingbird (Mimodes graysoni) is an endangered species endemic to Socorro Island, México (Collar et al. 1992). Although, widely distributed on Socorro in the past (Jehl & Parkes 1982), a population of about 300 mockingbirds is now restricted to areas where sheep impact has been slight or absent (Mar-tínez-Gómez & Curry 1995, 1996). Thi...
Article
Full-text available
The Socorro Mockingbird Mimodes graysoni is endemic to Socorro Island, Mexico, and has declined dramatically in this century. Study of its population size, distribution, and structure is currently under way to help assess its conservation status. In 1993 and 1994 215 Socorro Mockingbirds were ringed; a modified Lincoln index yielded a population es...
Article
In birds and mammals with ‘helpers-at-the-nest’, some individuals not only feed unrelated offspring, but also compete to do so. Non-adaptive explanations for alloparental care do not predict competition for access to offspring that, in its most extreme form, can include kidnapping young from adjacent territories. A common adaptive explanation holds...
Article
In birds and mammals with ‘helpers-at-the-nest’, some individuals not only feed unrelated offspring, but also compete to do so. Non-adaptive explanations for alloparental care do not predict competition for access to offspring that, in its most extreme form, can include kidnapping young from adjacent territories. A common adaptive explanation holds...
Chapter
Full-text available
Cooperative breeding is an unusual kind of social behaviour, found in a few hundred species worldwide, in which individuals other than the parents help raise young. Understanding the apparently altruistic behaviour of helpers has provided numerous challenges to evolutionary biologists. This book includes detailed first-hand summaries of many of the...
Article
Full-text available
On 3 small, low and arid islands (Genovesa, Champion, Espanola), Nesomimus territories filled all terrestrial habitat, mean group size varied from 4.5-14.2 adults, maximum group size ranged from 7-24 birds, and 70-100% of groups contained >2 birds. San Crisobal is larger and higher, and supports a broader range of habitats. At a highland and 2 coas...
Article
(1) The Galapagos mockingbird is a group territorial and cooperatively breeding species. We studied its demography on Isla Genovesa for 11 years (1978-88), a period that included 7 years with moderate rainfall, 2 extremely wet years when El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events occurred, and 2 drought years. (2) Annual survival of adults (x = 61%...
Article
Reproductive conflict within groups can be an important feature of cooperative breeding systems, especially when more than one individual of a sex breeds within a social group. Relationships between group structure, dominance, within-group conflict and reproductive tactics of cooperatively breeding Galápagos mockingbirds were examined on Isla Genov...
Article
Full-text available
The social organization of the Galápagos mockingbird (Nesomimus parvulus) in unusual in that groups frequently include more than one breeding pair (plural breeding), and helping behavior is flexible: some birds neither breed nor help, while others do both. To investigate the influence of kinship on helping behavior, I categorized each bird as a hel...
Thesis
Studies of avian cooperative breeding have emphasized the roles of environmental stability in territorial species and environ- mental uncertainty in colonial cooperative breeders. Galapagos mockingbirds (Nesomimus spp.) are territorial but they inhabit a climatically variable environment. To address evolutionary and ecological questions about coope...
Article
Six bill dimensions, and wing, tarsus and hallux lengths were measured on almost all museum specimens of Geospiza species available, and up to 20 specimens from each population of the remaining species of Darwin's finches. The data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses in order to provide a quantitative description of size and shap...
Article
Full-text available
It is certain that N. trifasciatus once inhabited Floreana, although a few investigators have expressed doubt that mockingbirds ever actually lived there. Swarth (1931) noted that Darwin's two specimens of N. trifasciatus did not necessarily come from Floreana; members of the Beagle crew could have collected these birds when they visited Gardner- b...

Questions

Question (1)
Question
We have DNA extracted from songbirds, and we know primer pairs for multiple loci from published sources. We just need advice about companies that are good at scoring microsatellite genotypes.

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