 |
Biography:
This is my thirty-first 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.
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.
click
here to go back to the top of the page |
|
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- Birds, Bacteria, and Degradation of Feathers
(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.
SCIENTIFIC WRITING (ENG312): In this course students use
data they have collected as part of summer research or an independent
or
tutorial project
to write a scientific paper, a grant proposal to carry the
work to the next level, and a newspaper article based on their
research. Students have published their articles and several students
have had their grants funded and gone on to do the research.
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.
click
here to go back to the top of the page
Research interests:
I have a number of advisees and several students, both freshmen
and advanced students, with whom I am doing research. My 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 this 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. More 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. I have begun
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.
I
hope you will consider becoming involved.
click
here to go back to the top of the page |
|
|
|
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
|
|
BOOKS
|
- 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).
|
|
RESEARCH PAPERS
(* undergraduate)
|
Recent Publications:
|
- Burtt, E. H., Jr. 1999. Rules to bird by: Gloger's and Allen's.
Birding 31: 362-365
- Burtt, E. H., Jr. 1999. Rules to bird by: Bergman's Rule. Birding
31: 267-270.
- 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. of Ornithol. 119: 239-246.
- Reneerkens, J., M. A. Versteegh,* A. M. Schneider,* T. Piersma,
and E. H. Burtt, Jr. Seasonally changing preen wax composition:
Red Knots flexible defense against
feather degrading bacteria? Auk 125 (in press)
|
|
CURRENT GRANTS
|
- 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."
|
|
PATENTS
|
- 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.
|
|
OTHER PUBLICATONS
|
- 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.
|
|
PAPERS PRESENTED
(* undergraduate)
|
- Hamaoui, G. S., Jr.* and E. H. Burtt, Jr. Analysis of
feather-degradation by Bacillus licheniformis from the
plumage of Botteri's Sparrows living in wet and dry habitats in
Arizona. 2005 Annual Meeting of the Association of Field Ornithologists/Wilson
Ornithological Society. Washington, D.C.
- Odom, K.J.* and E. H. Burtt. Differences between vocalizations
of wild-reared and human-reared birds of prey as an indication
of learning within
call development of owls and eagles.
2005 Annual Meeting of the Association of Field Ornithologists/Wilson
Ornithological Society. Washington, D.C.
- Schreiber, R.W., E.A. Schreiber, A. M. Peele,* and E. H. Burtt,
Jr. Featjer damage in an albino Great Frigatebird. 2005 Annual
Meeting of the Association of Field Ornithologists/Wilson Ornithological
Society. Washington, D.C.
- Williamson, K.E.*and E.H. Burtt, Jr. The microbial ecology in
the plumage of Neotropical migrants. 2005 Annual Meeting of the
Association of Field Ornithologists/Wilson Ornithological Society.
Washington,
D.C.
- Burtt, E. H., Jr. and V. Saranathan.* Simplicity of repeated
samples of plumage microflora of resident birds in Arizona, Ohio
and Washington. 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologists'
Union, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Saranathan, V.* and E.H. Burtt, Jr. Similarity of repeated samples
of plumage microflora of short-and long-distance migrants. 2005
Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, University
of California, Santa Barbara.
- Bisson, I-A., P. P. Marra, P. M. Gillevet and E. H. Burtt, Jr.
Life on feathers: characterizing plumage bacteria on American Redstart
feathers in the tropics vs. the temperate zone. 2005 Annual Meeting
of the American Ornithologists' Union, University of California,
Santa Barbara.
- Burtt, E. H., Jr. and P. Heeb. Bird-microbe interactions: competition,
commensalisms and co-evolution. XXIV International Ornithological
Congress (2006), Hamburg, Germany.
- Burtt, E. H., Jr., V. Saranathan,* and I-A. Bisson. An ecosystem
in feathers. XXIV International Ornithological
Congress (2006), Hamburg, Germany.
- Versteegh, M.A.,* J. Reneerkens, T. Piersma, and E.H. Burtt,
Jr. Seasonal shifts in uropygial gland secretions in Red Knots:
a flexible defense against feather-degrading bacteria? XXIV International
Ornithological Congress (2006), Hamburg, Germany.
- Schroeder, M.R.,* L.A. Smith,* J.E. Sroka,* K.J. McGraw, and
E.H. Burtt, Jr. Colorful parrot feathers inhibit bacterial degradation.
IV North American Ornithological Conference (2006), Veracruz, Mexico.
- Manor, S.A.* and E.H. Burtt, Jr. Effects of preening on the plumage
microbial community of House Sparrows. IV North American Ornithological
Conference (2006), Veracruz, Mexico.
- Peele, A.M.,* E.A. Schreiber, R.W. Schreiber, and E.H. Burtt,
Jr. IV North American Ornithological Conference (2006), Veracruz,
Mexico.
- Burtt, E. H., Jr. The art and science of Alexander Wilson: Father
of American ornithology. Keynote address, 2006 Annual Meeting of
the Wilson Ornithological Society. Boston.
- Stenger, J. M.* and E. H. Burtt, Jr. Pattern of wear among tail
feathers of songbirds. 2006 Annual Meeting of the Wilson Ornithological
Society. Boston.
- Peele, A. M., E. H. Burtt, Jr. and R. M. Greenberg. Comparison
of occurrence and abundance of feather-degrading bacilli in different
populations of Swamp Sparrows. 2006 Annual Meeting of the Wilson
Ornithological Society. Boston.
|
|
MASTERS THESIS ADVISEE
|
Law-Brown, J. Department of Biological Sciences, University
of Cape Town, South Africa
|
|
DOCTORAL THESIS ADVISEES
|
- de Repentigny, Y., Department of Biology, Université de
Montreal, Canada
- Porter, B. A., Department of Zoology, Ohio State University,
United States
|
|
|
BOOKS
- Burtt, E.H., Jr. and W. E. Davis, Jr. The art and Science of Alexander
Wilson: father of Amewrican Ornithology (partially written during my sabbatical,
fall 2005).
PAPERS
- Peele, A. M.*, E. H. Burtt, Jr., M. R. Schoeder* and R. M. Greenberg.
Color of Swamp Sparrows varies with occurrence and abundance
of feather-degrading bacilli in the plumage. Condor (submitted)
- Bisson, I-A, P. Marra, E. H. Burtt, Jr., M. Silaroodi,
P. M. Gillevet. Variation in plumage microbiota depends
on season and migration. (submitted)
GRANTS
- 2008-2011: Principle Investigator, E. H. Burttr, Jr.; Co-principle
investigators, I-A. Bisson, Princeton University; L. M. Tuhela-Reuning,
Ohio Wesleyan University; P. M. Gillevet, George Mason University;
P. P. Marra, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. NSF-RUI, DEB
0640836; $686,214: RUI: The acquisition and temporal change inthe
microbial community on the plumage of a Neotropical migratory
bird. (under review).
|
|
MEMBERSHIPS, OFFICES HELD AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL
RECOGNITION
|
- 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-), elected a 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)
click
here to go back to the top of the page
|