Edward H. Burtt, Jr.
Professor

Office: Rm. 344 CWSC
Phone: (740) 368-3886

Biography

Courses taught

Research interests

Curriculum Vitae

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Wilson Ornithological Society

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Biography:

This is my thirty-second year at Ohio Wesleyan. I am a professor in the Zoology Department and Co-director of the Ohio Wesleyan Honors Program. I teach introductory zoology for non-majors (Zool. 102), ornithology (Zool. 341), scientific writing (Eng. 312), and island biology (Zool. 349 [the students, my wife, and I travel to the Galápagos at the end of the semester]). I also teach a Freshman Honors Tutorial (Zool 190.1). Together with Dr. David M. Johnson, Professor of Botany, I teach an honors course on tropical biology (Bomi/Zool 300.5) in which we and the students spend 10 days in Costa Rica.

Closer to home, I chair the National Audubon-Ohio committee on Important Bird Areas. The committee has identified those areas in the state that are critical to maintaining the diversity of birds and other wildlife found in the state. Now we are working with conservation organizations, also local, and state government throughout the state to see that these areas are preserved and managed effectively. Finally, I am president of the American Ornithologists' Union, the world's largest professional society for the scientific study of birds.

I live in a rural area north of Delaware where I feed a lot of insects, birds, and mammals. My wife, Pam, and I enjoy camping, reading, music (I am a trustee of the Central Ohio Symphony), opera, theatre, and art museums (my wife paints and is an excellent photographer). I also follow several of the university teams. Pam is a veterinary nurse. We are fascinated by the natural world and travel frequently, recently to Argentina, Antarctica, the Falklands and Chile. In August, 2006, we visited northern Europe researching the early life of Alexander Wilson, father of American ornithology, for a book I am writing on his contributions to science, literature and art in the early 19th Century. I also attended the 24th International Ornithological Congress in Germany. In May, 2007, we and the Island Biology class were in the Galapagos and eastern Ecuador in rainforests along the Rio Napo. So our interests are diverse, which is why we enjoy the curriculum and atmosphere of a liberal arts college, as well as the varied interests of our students.

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Courses taught:

Click on a course title to view a brief description of that course.

INTRODUCTORY ZOOLOGY FOR NON-MAJORS (ZOOL102): In this course we look at the biology and anatomy of humans and how the body functions in sickness and in health. We discuss the evolution of humans and how we have influenced and continue to influence our natural world. We also look at human behavior. The course features an analysis of scientific methodology and discussion of the some of the difficult biological and ethical issues that face all humans (e.g., what to do with the information from the human genome project; human embryonic stem cell research; when is death).

HONORS TUTORIAL- Avian Microbiology (Bomi/Zool 190.1): Students spend the first three to four weeks reading the literature on feather-degrading bacteria and learning about laboratory and field techniques by spending time in the lab and field with me and student mentors. Our field site is my home where we meet to catch birds and enjoy breakfast, lunch and discussion of the research possibilities. Each student also does a research project, some of which have been developed into independent projects and senior theses. Several have been presented at national scientific meetings and been published with student authors. (See below for citations.)

TROPICAL BIOLOGY (BOMI/ZOOL 300.5): We provide an overview of tropical ecosystems from the perspectives of plants and animals. In addition we consider the geological and climatological forces that have shaped current tropical communities. Students present selected research papers and conduct their own research during our brief trip into the tropics.

ORNITHOLOGY (ZOOL341): We look at the unique and wondrous aspects of birds: how they fly, their unusual respiratory systems, their evolution from dinosaurs, feathers, song as a communication system, and other facets. Field work is a major part of the course as are weekend trips to wild habitats in the state.

ISLAND BIOLOGY (ZOOL349): You learn about the unusual aspects of island biology, processes such as colonization and extinction, evolution trends such as loss of fear. We also look at the formation of islands and how this influences their biology. At the end of the semester the class along with me and my wife travel to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador to see the trends we have been discussing.

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Research interests:

I have a number of advisees and several students, both freshmen and advanced students, with whom I am collaborating. Our research deals with the function and evolution of avian coloration, a subject on which I have published two books and numerous articles. A number of students, faculty in chemistry, microbiology, and molecular genetics, and I have studied the bacteria and fungi that live in the plumage of wild birds. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation have supported our research. Students have presented papers at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, the national meetings of the American Ornithologists' Union, the Wilson Ornithological Society, the American Society for Microbiology and several international meetings, most recently the 4th North American Ornithological Conference in Veracruz, Mexico, where six students presented their work. We are collaborating with researchers at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and at Arizona State University. Recently our work on feather-degrading microorganisms as a determining factor in the color variation of Song Sparrows in the western United States has lead to a collaborative study of the degradation rates of differently-colored parrot feathers. This research involves freshmen in my Honors Tutorial. We are completing a collaborative project with scientists at Cornell, in which Wesleyan students and I are looking at the behavioral effects of preening and oils secreted by birds on plumage bacteria. These are exciting projects, and we have a lot of fun with each of them. Consider becoming involved.

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Curriculum Vitae:

EDWARD H. BURTT, JR.
Cincinnati Conference Professor of Zoology

A.B. Biology, Bowdoin College (1970)
M.S. Zoology, University of Wisconsin - Madison (1973)
Ph.D. Zoology, University of Wisconsin - Madison (1977)

POSITIONS

• University of Tennessee (1976-1977), Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Ohio Wesleyan University (1977- ), Assistant Professor of Zoology (1977-1983), Associate Professor (1983-1987), Professor (1987- ), Cincinnati Conference Professor (2001-)
• Ohio State University (1981-1982), Senior Research Fellow in Zoology
• University of Utah (1998), Visiting Research Professor in Biology
• Harvard University (2002, 2005), Visiting Research Fellow
  

• Burtt, E. H., Jr. (ed.) 1979. The behavioral significance of color. Garland STPM Press, New York,
  xiv + 456 pp.
• Burtt E. H., Jr. 1986. An analysis of physical, physiological and optical aspects of avian coloration with emphasis on Wood Warblers. Omithol. Monogr. 38:x + 1-126.
• Burtt, E. H., Jr. 2007. The Nearctic Region. in (ed. A. Gosler) Birds of the World. Phillips Press, London. (in press).

Selected Publications:

• Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 1999. Occurrence of feather-degrading bacilli in the plumage of birds. Auk 116: 364-372.
• Muza*, M. M., E. H. Burtt, Jr., and J. M. Ichida. 2000. Distribution of bacteria on the feathers of eastern North American birds. Wilson Bull. 111: 432-435
• Ichida, J. M., L. Krizova,* C. A. LeFevre,* H. M. Keener, D. L. Elwell, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2001. Bacterial inoculum enhances keratin degradation and biofilm formation in poultry compost. J. Microbiol. Methods 47: 199-208.
• Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 2004. Gloger's Rule, feather-degrading bacteria, and color variation among Song Sparrows. Condor 106: 681-686.
• Goldstein, G., K. Flory,* B.A. Browne,* S. Majid,* J. M. Ichida, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2004. Bacterial degradation of black and white feathers. Auk 121: 656-659.
• Tiquia, S. M., J. M. Ichida, H. M. Keener, D.L. Elwell, E. H. Burtt, Jr., and F. C. Michel, Jr. 2005. Bacterial community profiles on feathers during composting as determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rDNA genes. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 67: 412-419.
• Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 2006. Selection for feather structure. Acta Zoologica Sinica 52 (Supplement):131-135.
• Schreiber, R.W., E.A. Schreiber, A. M. Peele,* and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2006. Pattern of damage to albino Great Frigatebird flight feathers supports hypothesis of abrasion by airborne particles. Condor 108:736-741.
• Bisson, I-A., P. Marra, E.H. Burtt, Jr., M. Sikaroodi, and P.M. Gillevet. 2007. A molecular comparison of plumage and soil bacteria across biogeographic, ecological, and taxonomic scales. Microbiol. Ecol. 54: 65-81.
• Saranathan, V.* and E.H. Burtt, Jr. 2007. Sunlight on feathers inhibits feather-degrading bacteria. Wilson J. Ornithol. 119: 239-246.
• Reneerkens, J., M. A. Versteegh,* A. M. Schneider,* T. Piersma, and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Seasonally changing preen wax composition: Red Knots flexible defense against feather degrading bacteria? Auk 125:
• Peele, A.M.,* E. H. Burtt, Jr., M. R. Schroeder, and R. S. Greenberg. 2009. Dark color of the Coastal Plain Swamp Sparrow may be an evolutionary response to occurrence and abundance of salt-tolerant, feather-degrading bacilli in its plumage. Auk 126: (in press).
• Bisson, I-.A., P. Marra, E. H. Burtt, Jr., M. Sikaroodi, and P. A. Gillevet. 2009. Variation in plumage microbiota depands on season and migration. Microbiol. Ecol. 56:(in press).
• Burtt, E.H., Jr. 2009. A future with feather-degrading bacteria. J. Avian Biol. 40: (in press).

• 2006-2009: Principal Investigator, A. Dhondt, Cornell University; Co-principal investigators, M. Haribal, Cornell University. NSF-DEB 0543462; $400,000: "Chemical ecology of uropygial gland secretions."

• Burtt, E. H., Jr. and J. M. Ichida. 1999. Keratinase produced by Bacillus licheniformis. U. S. Pat. 5877000.
• Ichida, J. M. and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2002. Use of plumage bacteria to enhance poultry composting. U. S. Pat. 6214576.

• Burtt, E. H., Jr. 2004. Presentacion. Pp. 7-10. in J.C. Senar. Mucho mas que plumas. Museo de Historia Natural, Madrid.
• Burtt, E. H., Jr. 2005. Blue Jay, Pigeons, Quail. World Book Encyclopedia.
• Burtt, E. H., Jr. 2006. Goldfinch, Lark Bunting, Purple Finch, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Stellar's Jay, Thrush. World Book Encyclopedia.

Burtt, E. H., Jr., B. L. Sharp*, P. Wee, C. Irvine*, J. M. Ichida, Y. Hu*, H. Liu*, and L. M. Tuhela. 2008.
Bacterial degradation of feather under simulated plumage conditions. 126th Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union (Portland, OR).
Lear*, K. M., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Bacterial degradation of flight and body contour feathers by B. licheniformis. Joint Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Mobile, AL).
Palmer*, M.S., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Resistance of turaco feathers to bacterial degradation. Joint Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Mobile, AL).
Smith*, L. A., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. The geography of coloration in parrots. 126th Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union (Portland, OR).
Stenger*, J. M., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. The bacterial degradation of phaeomelanic and eumelanic feathers. Joint Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Mobile, AL). [Winner of the best student paper award]
Williams*, S. M., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Structure of albino feathers: why so weak? Joint Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Mobile, AL).
Williams*, S. M., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Structure of albinistic, melanic, and white feather barbs. 126th Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union (Portland, OR).
Wilson*, M. P., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2008. Bacterial degradation of flight and body contour feathers by B. licheniformis. Joint Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Mobile, AL).
Lear,*K.M., A.B. Ellis, and C.R. Brown. 2009. Netting methods influence age distribution in samples of Cliff Swallows. Joint Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Pittsburgh, PA).
Palmer*, M.S. and R.R. Deatsman*. 2009. Inter- and intraspecific interactions among Neotropical, montane hummingbirds at feeders. Joint Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Pittsburgh, PA).
Smith*, L. A., and E. H. Burtt, Jr. 2009. The geography of color in parrots. Joint Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Pittsburgh, PA).
Williams*, S.M. and E.H. Burtt, Jr., 2009. Avian diversity in disturbed and undisturbed Costa Rican cloud forest and lowland rainforest. Joint Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Pittsburgh, PA).
Wilson*, M. P., and E. H. Burtt, Jr., 2009. Dynamics of Staphylococcus aureus and other Staphylococcus species in avian plumage. Joint Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Association of Field Ornithologists (Pittsburgh, PA).

Law-Brown, J. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

• de Repentigny, Y., Department of Biology, Université de Montreal, Canada
• Porter, B. A., Department of Zoology, Ohio State University, United States
• Norris, J. Department of Biology. University of Missouri-St. Louis, United States

• American Ornithologists' Union: member (1968-); Life Fellow (1988-); Bylaws Committee, Chair (1996-2006); elected to Council (2000-2003); ad hoc Committee on AOU Governance, Chair (2004-2005); Vice-President (2005-2006); Associate Editor of the Auk (2006- ); Presidential Citation (for outstanding contributions to the American Ornithologists' Union, 2006); President-elect (2006-2008); President (2008-2010)
• American Society of Naturalists: member (1978 - )
• Animal Behavior Society: member (1972-), Fellow (1994 - ), Parliamentarian (1982-1988)
• Association of Field Ornithologists: life member (1972 - ), Editor of recent literature reviews (1978-1985), Editor (1986-1991), Vice-president (1989-1991), President (1991 - 1993)
• British Ornithologists' Union: member (1975 - ), Associate Editor (1996 -2005)
• Cooper Ornithological Society: member (1986 - )
• Ohio Alliance for the Environment: Board (1988-1994), President (1992-1994), President's Award for Contributions to Environmental Education (1996)
• Ohio Ornithological Society: founding member (2006-)
• Sigma Xi Research Society: member (1976 - )
• Wilson Ornithological Society: life member (1970 - ), Second President-elect (1993 - 1995) First President-elect (1995 - 1997), President (1997-1999)
  

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