Patrick Weatherhead

My students and I study the behavior and ecology of birds and snakes. A central focus of research on both taxa is reproductive ecology generally, and sexual selection theory specifically. Using field studies in combination with DNA-based analyses of parentage, we investigate the adaptive value of behavioral and morphological attributes associated with attracting and choosing mates and the consequences for sexual dimorphism. Related to this work is an interest in parental strategies such as adaptive sex ratio manipulation in birds and snakes, parental care and conflicts of interest between parents, between offspring and between parents and offspring in birds, and maternal effects on offspring phenotypes in snakes. Other interests include predator avoidance and thermal ecology of snakes. A more applied interest is in the conservation of threatened or endangered snake populations. This research includes analysis of genetic structure and demography of snake populations, understanding the ecological basis for habitat selection, assessing direct and indirect human impacts on snakes, development of appropriate long-term population monitoring programs, and development of management strategies to protect endangered snake species.

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

Members of Program

Douglas Barron, MS Student
Jinelle Hutchins, PhD student
Dylan Maddox, PhD student

Associate Editor, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Scientific Advisor to the Canadian Recovery Teams for black rat snakes and massasauga rattlesnakes.