Undergraduate Researcher Receives Mini Grant for Innovative Study on American Oystercatchers

By: TAMU Biology

The Butler Lab at Texas A&M University’s Department of Biology is proud to spotlight the remarkable achievements of one of its undergraduate researchers, Aeris Clarkson. Aeris, a senior Zoology major, was recently awarded a mini grant from the Schubot Center for a groundbreaking project focusing on heavy metal contamination in American Oystercatchers along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Building on the foundation of her planned master’s research, which involves attaching satellite transmitters to American Oystercatchers to track their movements, this new project aims to investigate the presence of heavy metals in these birds. By analyzing blood and breast feather samples, Aeris will determine both immediate and long-term exposure to contaminants such as arsenic, lead, zinc, cadmium, and other metals. This study is the first of its kind in the Texas Coast region, promising to yield valuable insights into the environmental health of the area.

In addition to this exciting project, Aeris has also contributed to a preprint recently uploaded to BioRxiv. Collaborating with a PhD candidate from the University of Washington, Aeris assisted in observing and analyzing the behavior of Black-throated Mangoes, a species of hummingbird, when fitted with small radio-tag backpacks. This research involved a 3-hour time-budget experiment in a large flight arena in Colombia, where 25 hummingbirds were filmed under tagged and untagged conditions to compare their behaviors. Key behaviors such as flying, feeding, preening, and perching were analyzed using the Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS). Additionally, an aviary-style “entanglement test” was conducted to ensure the safety of the birds while equipped with the backpacks.

TAMU Biology looks forward to Aeris Clarkson’s innovative research endeavors and the valuable contributions she will make to the field of ornithology, Whoop!