hybrid_titmouse_by_Claire_Curry.JPG

 

Claire M. Curry

PhD Candidate

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program

OU Department of Zoology

 

ClaireCurry.JPG

 

Curriculum vitae: Claire M. Curry

Mailing address:

Department of Zoology
University of Oklahoma
730 Van Vleet Oval, Room 314
Norman, OK 73019

Email: cmcurry@ou.edu

Phone: 940-395-5230

Website: http://students.ou.edu/C/Claire.M.Curry-1/

Education

  • Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology doctoral program in Zoology Department at University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. August 2008 to present. Advisor: Michael Patten.
  • Graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Science in Biology (chemistry minor) at University of North Texas (Denton, TX). January 2005 to December 2007 (graduation).

Research Experience

  • Current research: genetic and behavioral dynamics of an avian hybrid zone, using the Tufted and Black-crested Titmouse species complex of Oklahoma and Texas as a model system. Hybrid zones such as this one, where two closely related species' ranges overlap, provide insight into gene flow and speciation.
  • Undergraduate biology honors thesis under Dr. James Kennedy's direction, titled "Factors affecting interaction rates and space use of Plathemis lydia (Odonata: Libellulidae)".
    • Intraspecific and interspecific interaction rates, space use, and area used were observed for P. lydia at three ponds in north-central Texas.
    • Interaction rates were found to be different depending on the space use category of interacting odonates (perching or flying), supporting the hypothesis that the thermoregulatory categories of perching and flying aid in partitioning the environment among species.

Publications

Curry, C.M. and J.H. Kennedy. 2010. Factors affecting interaction rates in Plathemis lydia (Drury) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae). Odonatologica. 39(1):27-39.

Bridge, E. S., J. F. Kelly, P. E. Bjornen, C. M. Curry, P. M. Crawford, and J. M. Parritte. 2010. Effects of nutritional condition on spring migration: do migrants use resource availability to keep pace with a changing world? Journal of Experimental Biology. 213:2424-2429.

Presentations and Posters (*indicates presenter)

Curry, C.M.* and M.A. Patten. 2010. Vocal dynamics of a complex avian hybrid zone. Association of Field Ornithologists annual meeting: Ogden, UT. (Poster presentation).

Curry, C.M.* and M.A. Patten. 2010. Vocal dynamics of a complex avian hybrid zone. Southwestern Association of Naturalists annual meeting: Junction, TX. (Poster presentation).

Curry, C.M.* and J.H. Kennedy. 2008. Factors affecting interaction rates and space use of Plathemis lydia (Drury 1773) (Odonata: Libellulidae). Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America/Society of Southwestern Entomologists joint meeting: Fort Worth, TX. (Poster presentation.)

Curry, C.M.* and J.H. Kennedy. 2008. Factors affecting interaction rates and space use of Plathemis lydia (Drury 1773) (Odonata: Libellulidae). Southwestern Association of Naturalists annual meeting: Memphis, TN. (Oral presentation).

Teaching Experience

  • TA for Entomology Lab (Fall 2009 and Fall 2010) at OU; duties include presentation of insect orders and families; creating and grading quizzes and exam; and leading students on field trips.
  • TA for Principles of Ecology Lab (Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2010) at OU; duties include discussion of concepts, guiding students through field experiments; and grading lab reports.
  • TA for Introductory Zoology Lab (Fall 2008) at OU; duties included lecturing on the day's lab topic, assisting students with dissections, and writing, administering, and grading quizzes.
  • Assisted teaching Insect Biology Lab at UNT in Fall 2006 and Fall 2007; duties included helping students with keying insects, assisting students on field trips, and proctoring exams and quizzes with the TAs.

Work Experience

  • Contracted by the U.S. Forest Service at the LBJ National Grasslands to conduct a Black-capped Vireo survey and design a Loggerhead Shrike survey from March to June 2008.
  • Worked March to August 2007 as part-time undergraduate research assistant in Dr. James Kennedy's Aquatic Ecology Lab at UNT, sorting aquatic invertebrates in sediment samples, identifying Chironomidae subfamilies, and formatting data.
  • Worked May to July 2006 as Seasonal Field Biologist for Leon River Restoration Project (with Texas A&M University) in Gatesville, TX, where duties included point counts of birds, nest searching, fledgling searching, and entering data.
  • Worked as part-time undergraduate research assistant from October 2005 to May 2006 in Dr. James Kennedy's Aquatic Ecology Lab at UNT, sorting aquatic invertebrates in sediment samples.
  • Worked June to mid-August 2005 at Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Vernon, Texas, counting birds, nest searching, measuring vegetation, and sampling insects.
  • Contracted by U.S. Forest Service to assist with Project Prairie Birds in winter of 2001-2002 on the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands.

Grants and Scholarships

  • OU Alumni Fellowship, 2008-present; "emphasizes the recruitment and retention of outstanding graduate students". More information at <http://gradweb.ou.edu/Funding/Fellowships/alumni/index.asp>.
  • Oklahoma Ornithological Society, 2010, proposal title "Genetic and Vocal Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone", research expenses, $400.
  • M. Blanche Adams and M. Frances Adams Memorial Scholarships in Zoology: Summer Research Scholarship, Academic Year 2010-2011, proposal title "Behavioral and Genetic Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone" for professional travel and research expenses, $1000.
  • M. Blanche Adams and M. Frances Adams Memorial Scholarships in Zoology: Summer Research Scholarship, summer 2010, proposal title "Behavioral and Genetic Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone"; partial summer research assistantship in department (complements 2010 Sutton Scholarship stipend, below), $756.
  • George Miksch Sutton Scholarship in Ornithology, 2010, proposal title "Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone", research equipment, travel, lab expenses, and partial summer stipend, $4800.
  • OU Graduate Student Senate Research and Creative Endeavors Grant, spring 2010; research equipment and travel to north-central Texas to examine field sites, $224.82.
  • OU Graduate Student Senate Conference and Creative Exhibition Grant, spring 2010; lodging and daily expenses at Southwestern Association of Naturalists annual meeting in Junction, TX, $79.86.
  • OU Robberson Research Grant, February 2010, research travel and genetic analysis costs, $1000 (granted once per degree).
  • OU Graduate Student Senate Research and Creative Endeavors Grant, fall 2009; travel expenses to southwestern Oklahoma to examine field sites, $315.62.
  • Carl and Pat Bynum Riggs Scholarship, Summer 2009; to defray expenses of course tuition and fees for O.U. Biological Station summer session; Molecular Techniques for Field Biology class, $500.
  • M. Blanche Adams and M. Frances Adams Memorial Scholarships in Zoology: Summer Research Scholarship, summer 2009, proposal title "Behavioral and Genetic Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone"; summer research assistantship in department, $2500.
  • George Miksch Sutton Scholarship in Ornithology, 2009, proposal title "Dynamics of a Complex Avian Hybrid Zone" research equipment and travel expenses, $5000.

Popular Articles

  • Write monthly "Birds and Beyond" column for small Texas newspaper, the Wise County Messenger. September 2002 to September 2007 as volunteer; November 2007 to present as paid columnist. Topics generally focus on natural history and identification of north-central Texas birds, butterflies, plants, and other organisms and descriptions of trips in other areas of Texas and Oklahoma.

 

Curry, Claire. 2004. West Nile virus: birds, people, and Texas. Texas Birds 5(1):14-16.

-A short review of West Nile virus after its initial outbreak.

Curry, Claire. 2004. Killer meadowlarks.  Texas Birds 5(1):29-30.

-Observations on an Eastern Meadowlark killing American Goldfinches during a winter storm.

Curry, Claire. 2004. Flight path: Young Birder of the Year contest ~ A birding essay: Stubs. Birding August 36(4):354-356.

-Observations on a female Black-chinned or Ruby-throated Hummingbird with a broken beak.

Curry, Claire. 2004. Real birders drool. IN Claire Curry, Robert M. Milardo, and Richard Frechette. 2004. Dimensions: Three flights of fancy. Birding 36(3):288-289.

-Humorous essay on the canine birding experience.

Curry, Claire. 2002. The tail of an unfortunate chickadee. Winging It 14(2):4.

-Description of a Carolina Chickadee trapped in an Argiope sp. spider web.

Professional Memberships

  • Southwestern Association of Naturalists (2008-present)
  • American Ornithologists' Union (2010)

Computer Experience

  • Basic use of SAS 9.1.
  • Microsoft Word 2007, Access 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, and FrontPage 2003.
    • Proficient in JetSQL queries in Access 2007
  • Proficient in ArcGIS 9.2 after completing Introduction to Geographic Information Systems course (UNT, Fall 2007).

Awards

  • UNT President's List for 4.00 GPA while completing at least 12 credit hours in a semester in all semesters from Spring 2005 (admitted) to Fall 2007 (graduation)
  • National Grasslands Prairie Partner Award 2003 (shared) from National Grasslands Council for volunteer work at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands.

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Contact information:

Claire M. Curry

Department of Zoology
University of Oklahoma
730 Van Vleet Oval
Room 314
Norman, OK 73019

This page last updated 20 August 2010.