00440nas a2200121 4500008004100000245009700041210006900138490000700207100002200214700001600236700001800252856004800270 2024 eng d00aExperimental evidence that nest orientation influences microclimate in a temperate grassland0 aExperimental evidence that nest orientation influences microclim0 v951 aCorimanya, Joanna1 aSmith, Emma1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttps://journal.afonet.org/vol95/iss1/art2/00560nas a2200145 4500008004100000245012200041210006900163300001100232490000700243100002100250700002900271700002300300700001800323856007300341 2023 eng d00aEmigration and survival correlate with different precipitation metrics throughout a grassland songbird's annual cycle0 aEmigration and survival correlate with different precipitation m ae223710 v871 aSilber, Katy, M.1 aMohankumar, Narmadha, M.1 aHefley, Trevor, J.1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttps://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jwmg.2237100549nas a2200145 4500008004100000245013200041210006900173490000700242100001800249700001700267700001700284700001800301700001800319856006600337 2023 eng d00aRiding out the storm: depleted fat stores and elevated hematocrit in a small bodied endotherm exposed to severe weatherAbstract0 aRiding out the storm depleted fat stores and elevated hematocrit0 v111 aFreeman, N, E1 aGustafson, M1 aHefley, T, J1 aBoyle, W., A.1 aCooke, Steven uhttps://academic.oup.com/conphys/article/11/1/coad011/708084100763nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245012700055210006900182300001100251490000800262100002900270700001800299700002300317700002000340700002100360700001700381700001800398700002000416700001900436700001700455856006100472 2020 eng d a0012-965800aHarmony on the prairie? Grassland plant and animal community responses to variation in climate across land‐use gradients0 aHarmony on the prairie Grassland plant and animal community resp ae029860 v1011 aBruckerhoff, Lindsey, A.1 aConnell, Kent1 aGuinnip, James, P.1 aAdhikari, Elina1 aGodar, Alixandra1 aGido, K., B.1 aBoyle, W., A.1 aHope, Andrew, G1 aJoern, Anthony1 aWelti, Ellen uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ecy.298602100nas a2200157 4500008004100000245008300041210006900124300001100193490000800204520159400212100001901806700001901825700001901844700001801863856006101881 2020 eng d00aSocial interactions do not drive territory aggregation in a grassland songbird0 aSocial interactions do not drive territory aggregation in a gras ae029270 v1013 a

Understanding the drivers of animal distributions is a fundamental goal of ecology and informs habitat management. The costs and benefits of colonial aggregations in animals are well established, but the factors leading to aggregation in territorial animals remain unclear. Territorial animals might aggregate to facilitate social behavior such as (1) group defense from predators and/or parasites, (2) cooperative care of offspring, (3) extra‐pair mating, and/or (4) mitigating costs of extra‐pair mating through kin selection. Using experimental and observational methods, we tested predictions of all four hypotheses in a tallgrass prairie in NE Kansas, USA. Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) males formed clumps of territories in some parts of the site while leaving other apparently suitable areas unoccupied. Despite substantial sampling effort (653 territories and 223 nests), we found no support for any hypothesized social driver of aggregation, nor evidence that aggregation increases nest success. Our results run counter to previous evidence that conspecific interactions shape territory distributions. These results suggest one of the following alternatives: (1) the benefits of aggregation accrue to different life history stages, or (2) the benefits of territory aggregation may be too small to detect in short‐term studies and/or the consequences of aggregation are sufficiently temporally and spatially variable that they do not always appear to be locally adaptive, perhaps exacerbated by changing landscape contexts and declining population sizes.

1 aWinnicki, S.K.1 aMunguía, S.M.1 aWilliams, E.J.1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ecy.292702259nas a2200205 4500008004100000245010600041210006900147300001200216490000800228520160300236653002301839653002401862653001301886653001501899653002401914653002801938100001901966700001801985856005002003 2019 eng d00aCauses and consequences of avian within-season dispersal decisions in a dynamic grassland environment0 aCauses and consequences of avian withinseason dispersal decision a77 - 870 v1553 a

Understanding the causes and consequences of dispersal is key to identifying selective pressures underlying species-level variation in biogeography, metapopulation dynamics and adaptive capacity. We tested the hypotheses that nest predation and/or brood parasitism avoidance drive breeding dispersal decisions and that dispersal functions to reduce subsequent reproductive failure in grasshopper sparrows, Ammodramus savannarum, breeding in eastern Kansas, U.S.A. Over 2 years, we monitored the fate of 222 nests and the movements of 144 parents. We established the spatiotemporal patterns of nest success among all nests, then related nest predation and parasitism to subsequent dispersal behaviour and reproductive success. Birds were more likely to disperse following nest predation, but decisions were unaffected by parasitism. Dispersers experienced higher chances of subsequent nest survival than did site-faithful individuals. Although second nests were parasitized less often than were first nests, dispersers did not experience substantially lower parasitism than did site-faithful individuals, suggesting that the challenges of predation and brood parasitism may be solved in different ways. This study represents one of few tests of alternative hypotheses explaining dispersal decisions of songbirds within seasons and represents a rare case study of the consequences of breeding dispersal on subsequent reproductive success. Our results suggest that differences in dispersal tendencies may result from variation in risk-response thresholds rather than alternative causal drivers.

10abreeding dispersal10ahabitat variability10anomadism10asettlement10aterritory switching10awithin-season dispersal1 aWilliams, E.J.1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.06.00900467nas a2200121 4500008004100000245008600041210006900127260004300196490001400239100002000253700001800273856005400291 2019 eng d00aGrowing up prairie: Ecological drivers of grassland songbird nestling development0 aGrowing up prairie Ecological drivers of grassland songbird nest aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vMS Thesis1 aWinnicki, Sarah1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttps://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/4007002541nas a2200217 4500008004100000245011700041210006900158300000900227490000800236520184100244653001502085653002502100653002602125653001802151653000902169653003002178653002402208100001902232700001802251856005402269 2018 eng d00aPatterns and correlates of within-season breeding dispersal: a common strategy in a declining grassland songbird0 aPatterns and correlates of withinseason breeding dispersal a com a1-140 v1353 a

Dispersal is a ubiquitous behavior with important consequences for gene flow, demography, and conservation. Some birds engage in between-year breeding dispersal, but the factors shaping variation in this behavior are not well understood. In mid-continental grasslands, preliminary evidence suggested that Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) dispersed not only between seasons, but also within breeding seasons—an apparently uncommon avian behavior. We studied a population of Grasshopper Sparrows breeding in northeastern Kansas, USA, to document the spatial and temporal patterns of within-season breeding dispersal in an experimentally managed tallgrass prairie from 2013 to 2015. We combined color-band resighting, territory mapping, and radio telemetry to quantify changes in territory density, turnover of territorial males, and dispersal distances. Density of Grasshopper Sparrows varied seasonally in management-specific ways, simultaneously increasing and decreasing in watersheds that differed in management regime. Turnover was unexpectedly high, with over half of territorial males being replaced each month. We documented over a third of males dispersing up to ∼9 km between breeding attempts. Our study provides the first comprehensive description of the patterns of within-season breeding dispersal in a grassland songbird. Our results reveal the remarkable prevalence of within-season movement in this system and the relatively large distances over which birds disperse. Such mobility has important implications for survey design and habitat management, as birds select habitat at much larger spatial scales than is generally appreciated. These results also provide foundational information for tests of alternative hypotheses explaining the ecological and evolutionary basis for such movements.

10aGrasslands10ainter-patch movement10aintra-season movement10aKonza Prairie10aLTER10amid-season habitat shifts10aterritory switching1 aWilliams, E.J.1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttp://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1642/AUK-17-69.102007nas a2200145 4500008004100000245008600041210007000127300001400197490000700211520151700218100002201735700001801757700002201775856006401797 2017 eng d00aValidation of a field-ready handheld meter for plasma β-hydroxybutyrate analysis0 aValidation of a fieldready handheld meter for plasma βhydroxybut a399 - 4040 v883 a

Plasma metabolite analysis is frequently used to assess the energetic state and energy intake of birds. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BUTY) is a common metabolite used in these studies, and is correlated with fasting and mass loss. BUTY is typically quantified in laboratory assays that are costly, time-consuming, and prone to human error. We tested the accuracy and precision of a field-ready handheld BUTY meter. We compared BUTY concentration values obtained in the laboratory and with the handheld meter in plasma samples from 19 Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), and assessed precision with repeat analysis of a single sample. The handheld meter reported BUTY concentrations in < 2 min, was highly precise, and as accurate as the laboratory assay method—all ideal for field conditions. Collecting blood samples for laboratory analysis, particularly from remote field sites, involves a series of risks and challenges for permitting or the logistics of storage and shipping, as well as the associated costs. Analyzing samples on site, whether with the unit we tested or other similar handheld meters, makes plasma metabolite analysis practical and possible in field conditions and for taxa where this technique has been underused due to permitting, transport, or other logistical constraints of laboratory analysis methods. The cost of analysis is similar on a per sample basis, but, without the need to store and transport samples, using handheld meters in the field may be cheaper.

1 aSommers, Amie, S.1 aBoyle, W., A.1 aMcGuire, Liam, P. uhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jofo.1223300507nas a2200121 4500008004100000245012800041210006900169260004300238490001400281100001900295700001800314856005300332 2016 eng d00aGrasshopper sparrows on the move: patterns and causes of within-season breeding dispersal in a declining grassland songbird0 aGrasshopper sparrows on the move patterns and causes of withinse aManhattan, KSbKansas State University0 vMS Thesis1 aWilliams, E.J.1 aBoyle, W., A. uhttp://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/32705