FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] ETSU Biology Chair Seminar Set Thurs., Feb. 8

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

James R. Belthoff, professor and director of Graduate Studies, and associate 
chairman of the Department of Biology at Boise State University in Idaho, will 
present a seminar at East Tennessee State University, Thursday, Feb. 8, at 4 
p.m.

He is among four finalist for the position as chairman of the ETSU Department 
of Biological Sciences.

His seminar will be conducted in Room 304 of Brown Hall (the science building) 
and is open to those who may be interested.

Much of his research focuses on understanding factors that drive natal 
dispersal in birds. He has investigated a model that predicts dispersal in 
young screech-owls which is mediated by increases in the adrenocorticoid 
hormone, corticosterone, which is stimulated by either internal or external 
factors. He also has current projects related to the population biology, 
behavioral ecology, and conservation of burrowing owls, movement biology and 
physiology of house finches, and effects of habitat changes on shrub-steppe 
passerines.

The position of chairman has a starting date of July 1, 2006.  The ETSU 
department serves approximately 250 majors and twenty M.S. students.  The 
department hopes to expand its research productivity and graduate program 
building on an exceptionally strong undergraduate program and the new chair is 
expected to lead the department in refining its mission and goals statements 
with these ends in mind.  

Dr. Belthoff has been on the faculty at Boise State University since 1993. He 
earned his 
B.S. at Colorado State University in 1982; M.S., Eastern Kentucky University in 
1987;
and Ph.D., Clemson University in 1992.

Publications:
Herting, B.L. and J.R. Belthoff. In revision. Exogenous testosterone and season 
affect song characteristics of male western screech-owls. Hormones and Behavior.

Herting, B.L, J.R. Belthoff, and A.M. Dufty, Jr. In revision. Seasonal 
variation in testosterone-induced territorial aggression in male western 
screech-owls. Hormones and Behavior.

Belthoff, J.R. 2003. In press. Using artificial nests to study nest predation 
in birds. The American Biology Teacher.

Egbert, J.R. and J.R. Belthoff. 2003. Wing shape in house finches differs 
relative to migratory habit in eastern and western North America. Condor 
105:825-829.

Burnham, W., C. Sandfort, and J.R. Belthoff. 2003. Relationships among 
individual sex of peregrine falcons and egg measurements and hatchling weight. 
Condor 105:327-335.

Belthoff, J.R. and B.W. Smith. 2003. Patterns of artificial burrow occupancy 
and reuse by burrowing owls in Idaho. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:1-7.

Belthoff, J.R. and R.A. King. 2002. Nest-site characteristics of burrowing owls 
in the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Idaho. Western 
North American Naturalist 62:112-119. 

Herting, B.L. and J.R. Belthoff. 2001. The bounce and double trill songs of 
male and female western screech-owls: characterization and usefulness for 
classification of sex. Auk 118:1095-1101. 

Smith, B.W. and J.R. Belthoff. 2001. Identification of ectoparasites on 
burrowing owls in southwestern Idaho. Journal of Raptor Research 35:159-161. 

Smith. B.W. and J.R. Belthoff. 2001. Burrowing owls and development: results of 
short-distance nest relocations to avoid construction impacts. Journal of 
Raptor Research 35:385-391.

Smith, B.W. and J.R. Belthoff. 2001. Effects of chamber size and tunnel 
diameter on nest-site selection in burrowing owls: results of experiments using 
artificial burrows. Journal of Wildlife Management: 65:318-326.

King, R.A. and J.R. Belthoff. 2001. Post-fledging dispersal of burrowing owls 
in southwestern Idaho: characterization of movements and use of satellite 
burrows. Condor 103:118-126. 

Dufty, A.M., Jr. and J.R. Belthoff. 2000. Proximate mechanisms of dispersal: 
the role of hormones and body condition. Pages 217-229 in "Dispersal," J. 
Clobert, E. Danchin, A. Dhondt, and J.D. Nichols [eds.]. Oxford Univ. Press, 
London

Ferriere, R., J.R. Belthoff, I. Olivieri, and S. Krackow. 2000. Evolving 
dispersal: where to go next? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 15:5-7.

Ellsworth, E.A. and J.R. Belthoff. 1999. Effects of social status on the 
dispersal behaviour of juvenile western screech-owls. Animal Behaviour 
57:883-892.

Able, K.P. and J.R. Belthoff. 1998. Rapid "evolution" of migratory behaviour in 
the introduced house finch of eastern North America. Proceedings of the Royal 
Society, London, Series B 265:2063-2071.

Belthoff, J.R., L.R. Powers, and T.D. Reynolds. 1998. Breeding birds at the 
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, 1985 - 1991. Great 
Basin Naturalist 58:167-183.

Belthoff, J.R. and A.M. Dufty, Jr. 1998. Corticosterone, body condition, and 
locomotor activity: a model for dispersal in screech-owls. Animal Behaviour 
55:405-415.

Let's go birding.....

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN