BEACON Center
for the Study of Evolution in Action
My current work focuses on avian chemical
communication, addressing the following
questions: what information is present in a
bird's odor, what can birds detect, and what are
their preferences when it comes to choosing a
mate?
Whittaker, D. J., A. L.
Dapper, M. P. Peterson, J. W. Atwell, and E. D.
Ketterson. 2012. Maintenance of MHC Class IIB
diversity in a recently established songbird
population. Journal
of Avian Biology. In press.
Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, N. M. Gerlach, A. L. Posto, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2011. Role of testosterone in stimulating seasonal changes in a potential avian chemosignal. Journal of Chemical Ecology 37: 1349-1357.
Whittaker, D. J., K. M. Richmond, A. K. Miller, R. Kiley, C. Bergeon Burns, J. W. Atwell, and E. D. Ketterson. 2011. Intraspecific preen oil odor preferences in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Behavioral Ecology 22: 1256-1263.
Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, C. Hollars, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Songbird chemosignals: Preen oil volatile compounds vary among individuals, sexes, and populations. Behavioral Ecology 21: 608-614.
McGlothlin, J. W., D. J. Whittaker, S. E. Schrock, N. M. Gerlach, J. M. Jawor, E. A. Snajdr, E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Natural selection on testosterone production in a wild songbird population. The American Naturalist 175: 687-701.
Whittaker, D. J., D. G. Reichard, A. L. Dapper, E. D. Ketterson. 2009. Behavioral responses of nesting female dark-eyed juncos Junco hyemalis to hetero- and conspecific passerine preen oils. Journal of Avian Biology 40: 579-583.
