Kira McEntire PhD
My research interests have grown over the past few years to include a few key ideas and approaches and how these ideas interconnect. Below are short descriptions of some of the main ideas I am currently actively pursuing. Quite the shift from the salamander loving student I started out as (though salamanders will always have a place in my heart)!
Current Research:
In Brief
My current research interests are at the interfaces between individual variation, physiology, behavior, population ecology, and evolution. I am excited about the current projects getting off the ground in my lab working with marbled salamander parental care, gray treefrog tadpole diet and metamorph color variation, and red-backed salamander demography. As well as continuing to explore the maintenance of color polymorphisms in western ribbon snakes and other species.
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My dissertation specifically focused on the integration of biophysical models of salamanders with agent-based modeling to explore the impact of plant climbing behaviors on overall activity and interactions with climate. I then used fieldwork to evaluate the model predictions. Rhododendron management on salamanders.
Individual Based Ecology
Individual based ecology is a reductionist approach to ecology by focusing on individual organisms and their interactions with the environment and each-other. This approach is centered around the use of agent based modeling in ecology. The name stems from an idea proposed by Grimm and Railsback in their book "Individual Based Modeling and Ecology". This idea strongly influences the way I approach questions in ecology because of the way it highlights the importance of variability and the ability to ask questions about how behaviors alter population dynamics, biogeography, and communities.
The individual-based way of thinking is approachable by offering an opportunity to ask questions about how a system works and testing our understanding. It also helps explain some of the observed patterns on the landscape that are lost when only looking at average values or by ignoring behavior in the system. This applies to weather patterns as well. Many predictions of climate change also predict increased variability and frequency of extreme events. This 'behavior' of weather events can have a significant impact on biological systems.
Natural History
Natural history refers to fundamental information about how an organism works (physiology) and interacts with its surroundings (biotic and abiotic factors). Although natural history research fell out of favor, in response to increased computing power and the ability to run increasingly complex models, it is starting to gain ground once again. Natural history information is essential to create or interpret any kind of ecological model.
One of the results of agent-based models is the discovery of knowledge gaps about a species. Field-based natural history studies are frequently necessary to fill these gaps in knowledge.
Behavioral Ecology
Behavioral ecology explores the questions of how and why certain behaviors exist in the context of ecology. Behaviors are a key component of how animals interact with their surroundings and are one of the first responses to environmental change. Most predictive models do not include behavior, for good reason; it is difficult to quantify and include behavior. This is where natural history studies and individual-based models come in. Individual-based models can easily incorporate behavior and offer a way to evaluate the influence of behavior as a mechanism driving other population or landscape level patterns.
I am specifically looking at the relationship between disturbance and parental care in marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum)
Phenotype syndromes
Behavioral syndromes have been proposed as a suite of linked behaviors. These linked behaviors may explain why certain behaviors seem counterintuitive especially in certain life stages. Phenotype syndromes take that one step further to include other phenotypes, such as coloration, body form, or physiology.
This idea has not been extensively studied but some work has been done relating salamander color morphs to specific physiology data. It is a new frontier that can be furthered by individual-based modeling.
Physiologyical Ecology
Physiological ecology describes the way an organism functions and how that interacts with the environment. For example, Plethodontid salamanders are lungless and require moist skin for respiration. This means their surface activity is directly linked to dehydration rates. Their body shape and skin composition determines dehydration rates. These rates can interact with the environment through local temperature and relative humidity. Behaviors can alter the microclimate an organism is experiences and thus change their physiology.
This type of behavior, specifically used to alter physiology in relation to the environment, is called a compensatory behavior, because an animal is compensating for physiological differences by moving to another location. For example, a reptile may bask in the sun to increase their body temperature and metabolism. This kind of bottom up approach to thinking lends itself well to individual- based modeling.
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Color polymorphisms, Background matching, and Dazzle camouflage
Species have long used camouflage as an anti-predator mechanism. But this technique only works if the individuals are in the correct background, and sometimes oriented correctly. How much of this a conscious choice and how much is driven by other instinctual behaviors? Though the question of self-awareness is difficult to study, the efficiency of background matching and habitat choice give some insights. One facinaticing, complicating factor are color polymorphisms. This means the same species can look very different between or even within populations. How does this variation get maintained? I am currently looking at this question in the context of western ribbon snakes and garter snakes, but am hoping to return to salamanders as well with my return to the southeast. A complicating factor is that some species rely on "dazzle camouflage" rather than background matching. This means they may be conspicuous but when they move they are hard to track. Like stripes on the quick ribbon snakes.
