Esteban Fernandez-Juricic
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences (behavioral ecology; sensory ecology)
Dr. Esteban Fernández-Juricic studies the evolution of visual systems in birds in relation to foraging, anti-predator, and mate-choice behaviors. He has done work on the factors limiting the transmission of visual information within bird flocks as well as the visual detection of predators. He is currently interested in how different visual traits (topography of the retina, configuration of visual fields, sensitivity of visual pigments and oil droplets) influence scanning strategies and predator detection (Fernández-Juricic & Tran 2007; Fernández-Juricic et al 2007, 2009; Tisdale & Fernández-Juricic 2009; Gall & Fernández-Juricic 2010). He conducts behavioral experiments in the Ross Reserve under semi-natural conditions: he uses enclosures that are placed outdoors, manipulates factors that affect the transmission of visual information (e.g., distance between conspecifics), and uses cameras and digital recorders to measure bird behavior. The central recording station is housed in the Lindsey Lab. Furthermore; Dr. Fernández-Juricic has begun fieldwork at the Reserve recording the scanning behavior of local bird species.
Visit Esteban Fernandez-Juricic's homepage for more detailed information about his research.