Students
Graduate students
USM offers a M.S. degree in Biology. For more information on the program, see the graduate program's home page.
If you are interested in pursuing graduate work in animal behavior, you should have a solid background in biology, including ecology and evolution. You also should have taken at least one undergraduate course in animal behavior. Ideally, I am looking for students who have undergraduate research experience, preferably with field work.
Current graduate students
Carrie Lewis
B.S. Biology/Environmental Studies, College of William and Mary, 2006
Thesis topic: Kin recognition in woodchucks
Jennifer McKay
B.A. Communication, Marist College, 1999
Thesis topic: Effects of mercury on behavior in sharp tailed sparrows
Kevin Regan
B.S. Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, 2006
Thesis topic:
Effects of wildfire on spacing systems in pronghorns
Graduate alumni
Lisa Aschemeier
M.S. Biology, 2009
B.A. Zoology/Environmental Science, Miami University, 2007
Thesis topic: Eavesdropping in woodchucks and eastern chipmunks on heterospecific alarm calls
Sarah Darhower
M.S. Biology, 2006
B.S. Animal Bioscience, Pennsylvania State University, 2001
Thesis: Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama)
Publication: Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama). Zoo Biology 27: 49-61. [PDF available]
Current employment: Sarah is a part time instructor at several colleges in the Greater Portland area.
Undergraduate students
For more information about the B.S. degree in Biology, see http://www.usm.maine.edu/bio/3c_major.htm
I recruit undergraduate students to work with me on the woodchuck study, and some students go on to pursue their own independent research projects. Field assistants, who are hardy souls, help in setting live traps and in handling the animals, as well as assisting with surgery when we implant radiotransmitters and temperature data loggers into juveniles and yearlings. They also collect data on spatial locations and on behavior, including time budgets and interactions. If you are interested in field work and don't mind spending a lot of time outside in all kinds of weather, send me an e-mail.
Student presentations
2008 *Long, S. and Maher, C.R. Experimental evidence that stabilimenta in Argiope aurantia serve multiple functions. Oral presentation given at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2008 *Long, S. and Maher, C.R. Experimental evidence that stabilimenta in Argiope aurantia serve multiple functions. Seminar presented at the University of Southern Maine Biology Department's Seminar Series.
2006 Darhower, S.E. and Maher, C.R. Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists.
2004 *Duron, M., Maher, C.R. and *Greenleaf, M.R. Using microsatellite DNA to determine the mating system of woodchucks (Marmota monax). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists.
2003 *Duron, M. and Maher, C.R. Using microsatellite DNA to determine genetic relationships of woodchucks. Poster presented at Annual USM Scholarship and Creativity Fair.
2001 *Rodgers, H.I. and Maher, C.R. Effects of human activity on woodchuck flight response. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
1998 Maher, C.R., *Besel, R.M. and *Blatnick, J. Effects of visitors and season on behavior patterns of captive Siberian tigers. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
1997 *Besel, R., *Blatnick, J. and Maher, C. The effects of visitor traffic and seasonal changes on captive tiger behavior. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
1996 *Besel, R. *Blatnick, J., Maher, C.R., and Kirkpatrick, J. Effects of visitors on behavior patterns of captive Siberian tigers: preliminary results. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
1996 *Lofthouse, A., Maher, C.R., and Kirkpatrick, J. Effects of environmental enrichment on captive North American river otter behavior patterns: preliminary results. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
*denotes undergraduate student
Undergraduate alumni
Skye Long B.S. Biology, 2008
Jessica Wright B.S. Biology, 2005
