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Research Interests: behavioral ecology;
avian mating systems; populations genetics
Dr. Tuttle is
interested in the evolution of behavior, populations, and
species. Specifically, she examines how ecology, behavior,
genetics, and physiology maintain natural variation through their
influence on the evolution of life-history strategies, phenotypic
expression, and both the relative fitness and frequency of genotypes
within a population. Dr. Tuttle is currently involved in two
projects that investigate these factors: 1) a study of the maintenance
of polymorphism via disassortative
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mating in the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia
albicollis), and 2) a study of sexual selection and the evolution
of mating systems in Australian fairy-wrens (Malurus splendens,
M. lamberti, M. leucopterus) in collaboration with Stephen
Pruett-Jones (University of Chicago) and Michael S. Webster (Washington
State University).
Dr. Tuttle's
work on white-throated sparrows and fairy-wrens examines how
individuals maximize fitness through the differential allocation of
time, energy, and resources. Both research projects examine 1)
how individuals balance various life history trade-offs, and 2) how
life-history trade-offs generate variance that affects the evolution of
sexually-selected characters. Dr. Tuttle's research differs
from conventional evolutionary study in that she often employs concepts
and techniques borrowed from other disciplines.
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Two different
color morphs of white-throated sparrows.
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Dr.
Tuttle utilizes observational and experimental methods in the field and
laboratory, molecular genetic techniques (e.g. minisatellite DNA
fingerprinting, microsatellites, RAPDs, AFLPs), physiological
techniques (e.g. semen sampling, hormonal analyses, and immunological
analyses), and other multi-disciplinary techniques (e.g. karyotyping,
histology). An integrative approach often reveals new alternative
hypotheses and allows her to investigate evolutionary questions at
proximate and ultimate levels.
Dr. Tuttle's work
on white-throated sparrows and fairy-wrens examines how individuals
maximize fitness through the differential allocation of time, energy,
and resources. Both research projects examine 1) how individuals
balance various life history trade-offs, and 2) how life-history
trade-offs generate variance that affects the evolution of
sexually-selected characters. Dr. Tuttle's research differs
from conventional evolutionary study in that she often employs concepts
and techniques borrowed from other disciplines. Dr. Tuttle
utilizes observational and experimental methods in the field and
laboratory, molecular genetic techniques (e.g. minisatellite DNA
fingerprinting, microsatellites, RAPDs, AFLPs), physiological
techniques (e.g. semen sampling, hormonal analyses, and immunological
analyses), and other multi-disciplinary techniques (e.g. karyotyping,
histology). An integrative approach often reveals new alternative
hypotheses and allows her to investigate evolutionary questions at
proximate and ultimate levels.
Dr. Tuttle has a
general interest in population genetics, the nature and organization of
genetic variation in populations, and how genetic diversity affects the
conservation of species. She has collaborated on several such
research projects on a variety of organisms ranging from mammals to
insects.
Selected
Publications: Reprints are available
as PDF files. By accessing the PDF file, the user agrees to abide by
all copyright laws and education fair-use regulations
Hoffman, A.M., Song, J., & Tuttle, E.M. In press. ELOPTA: A Novel
Microcontroller Based Operant Device. Behavior Research
Methods.
Tuttle, E.M.,
Jensen, R.R., Formica, V.A., & Gonser, R.A. 2006. Using
remote sensing image texture to study habitat use patterns: A
case study using the polymorphic white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia
albicollis). Global Ecology and Biogeography 15: 349-357. PDF (163 Kb)
Hoffman, A.M., Robakiewicz, P.E., Tuttle, E.M., & Rogers,
L.J. 2006. Behavioural lateralisation in the Australian
magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).
Laterality 11(2): 110-121. PDF
(117 Kb)
Tarvin, K.A., Webster, M.W., Tuttle, E.M., & Pruett-Jones,
S. 2005. Extra-pair mating is influenced by genetic
similarity in splendid fairy-wrens. Animal Behavior 70:
945-955. PDF (241 Kb)
Stutchbury,
B.J.M., Pitcher, T.E., Norris, D.R., Tuttle,
E.M., & Gonser, R.A. 2005. Does male
extra-territory foray effort affect within and extra-pair fertilization
success in hooded warblers, Wilsonia citrina? Journal of Avian
Biology 36: 471-477.
PDF (99 Kb)
Tuttle, E.M. 2005. LTREB: The Evolution of
Alternative Strategies. In: Research Design and Proposal Writing in
Spatial Science (Edited by J.D. Gatrell, G.D. Bierly, & R.R.
Jensen). Springer-Verlag. PDF (1056 Kb)
Tuttle, E.M.
& Pruett-Jones, S. 2004. Estimates of extreme sperm
production: morphological and experimental evidence from reproductively
promiscuous Fairy-wrens (Malurus). Animal Behaviour
68:541-550. PDF (212 Kb)
Webster, M.W., Tarvin, K.A., Tuttle, E.M., and
Pruett-Jones, S. 2004. Reproductive promiscuity in the splendid
fairy-wren: Effects of group size and reproduction by helpers.
Behavioral Ecology 15: 907-915. PDF (148 Kb)
Formica, V.A., Gonser, R.A., Ramsay, S.M., and Tuttle,
E.M. 2004. Spatial dynamics of alternative reproductive strategies:
the role of neighbors. Ecology 85(4): 1125-1136.
PDF
(1061 Kb)
Tuttle, E.M. and Pruett-Jones, S. 2004.
Estimates of extreme sperm production: morphological and experimental
evidence from reproductively promiscuous Fairy-wrens (Malurus). Animal
Behaviour 68:541-550.
Tuttle, E. M. and S. Pruett-Jones. 1996.
White-winged choughs Corcora melanorhamphos using a stick nest.
Emu 96: 207-208. PDF (210 Kb)
Tuttle, E.M. 2003. Alternative reproductive
strategies in the polymorphic white-throated sparrow: behavioral and
genetic evidence. Behavioral Ecology 14(3): 425-432. PDF (153 Kb)
Tuttle, E. M., S. Pruett-Jones, and M . S.
Webster. 1996. Cloacal protuberances and extreme sperm production in
Australian fairy-wrens. Proceedings of the Royal Society of
London B 263: 1359-1364. PDF (1138 Kb)
Caraco, T. and Tuttle, E.M. 1993. Review of
Foundations in Ecology, edited by L. A. Real and J. H. Brown,
University of Chicago Press. Animal Behaviour 45: 203.
Caraco, T. and Tuttle, E.M. 1993. Review of
Population Dynamics and the Tribolium Model: Genetics and Demography,
by R. F. Constantino and R. A. Desharnais, Springer-Verlag. Bulletin of
Mathematical Biology.
Tuttle, E. M., L. Wulfson, T. Caraco. 1990.
Risk-aversion, relative abundance of resources and foraging preference.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 26:
165-171.
Recer, G. M.,
Blanckenhorn, W. U., Newman, J. A., Tuttle, E.M., Withiam, M. L.,
and Caraco, T. 1987. Temporal resource variability and the
habitat-matching rule. Evolutionary Ecology 1 (4): 363-378.
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