Biological Sciences

Brian D. Peer, Assistant Professor

Ornithology, behavioral ecology, coevolution, molecular ecology

Brian D. Peer.

Contact Information:
Waggoner Hall 333
Macomb, IL 61455
309/298-2336
BD-Peer@wiu.edu

Personal Homepage: Click here

Degree:

Ph.D., University of Manitoba, 1998

Courses Taught:

Research Interests:
Coevolution between avian brood parasites and their hosts, Avian Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Molecular Ecology, Avian Conservation

Recent Publications:
Peer, B. D., S. I. Rothstein, K. S. Delaney, and R. C. Fleischer.  2007.  Defence behavior against brood parasitism is deeply rooted in mainland and island scrub- jays.  Animal Behaviour 73:55-63.

Peer, B. D., L. R. Hawkins, E. P. Steinke, P. B. Bollinger, and E. K. Bollinger.  2006.  Eastern bluebirds reject Brown-headed Cowbird eggs. Condor 108:741-745.

Peer, B. D.  2006.  American Coot parasitism on Least Bitterns.  Wilson Journal of Ornithology 118:415-418.

Peer, B. D.  2006.  Egg destruction and egg removal by avian brood parasites: Adaptiveness and consequences.  Auk 123:16-22.  

Rothstein, S. I., and B. D. Peer.  2005.  Conservation solutions for threatened and endangered cowbird hosts: Separating fact and fiction.  Ornithological Monographs 57:98-114.  American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Peer, B. D., S. I. Rothstein, M. J. Kuehn, and R. C. Fleischer.  2005.  Host defenses against cowbird parasitism: Implications for cowbird management. Ornithological Monographs 57:84-97. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Ortega, C. P., J. F. Chace, and B. D. Peer.  2005.  Research directions and cowbird management.  Ornithological Monographs 57:1-5.

Ortega, C. P., J. F. Chace, and B. D. Peer, editors.  2005.  Management of cowbirds and their hosts: Balancing science, ethics, and mandates.  Ornithological Monographs 57. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.

Peer, B. D., S. I. Rothstein, and J. W. Rivers.  2005.  First record of Bronzed Cowbird parasitism on the Great-tailed Grackle.  Wilson Bulletin 117:194-196.

Peer, B. D., and S. G. Sealy.  2004.  Fate of grackle defenses in the absence of brood parasitism: Implications for long-term brood parasite-host coevolution.  Auk 121:
1172-1186.

Peer, B. D., and S. G. Sealy.  2004.  Correlates of egg rejection in hosts of the Brown-headed Cowbird.  Condor 106:580-599.

Graduate Student Research:
 Megan Atterberry-Jones – cooperative breeding in Red-headed Woodpeckers

Mark Benson – evolution of brood parasitism in Wild Turkeys

Keri Dubina – egg pecking behavior by Brown-headed Cowbirds

Lyndon Hawkins - TBD

Katie Mayer - TBD

Jennifer Schahl – sexual selection in blackbirds

Cavan Sullivan - TBD

Undergraduate Student Research:
Keri Dubina – egg pecking behavior by Brown-headed Cowbirds

Lindsay Pettorutto – egg mimicry in Brown-headed Cowbirds

Jennifer Schahl – sensory exploitation in Common Grackles

Jennifer Sutherland – coevolution between Northern Cardinals and Brown-headed Cowbirds

Former Students:
Marissa Phoenix – adaptive significance of tail-flagging in White-tailed Deer