Andrew Dolby Associate Professor of Biology Department of Biological Sciences University of Mary Washington Office: Jepson Science Center 431 Phone: 540-654-1420 adolby@umw.edu

Courses:

• Animal Behavior
• Ornithology
• Biological Concepts 1 and 2
• Introduction to Ecology
• Senior Seminar
  

Ornithology Field Trips to 1) Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, 2) National Museum of Natural History Ornithology Department: Education / Experience:

• B.A.  -  Appalachian State University (1990)
• M.S. - Colorado State University (1993)
• Ph.D. - Ohio State University (1998)
• Lecturer - University of South Florida (1998 - 2000) 
• Assistant Professor - University of Mary Washington (2000 - 2006)
• Associate Professor - University of Mary Washington (2006 - Present)
  

Research Interests and Opportunities for Undergraduate Research*:
 

My primary research interests lie in avian behavioral and physiological ecology.  I currently conduct research during both spring and summer semesters.  First, my research students and I are studying whether song performance in male Gray Catbirds indicates their potential quality as breeding partners.       We are also studying winter use of nocturnal hypothermia in temperate zone songbirds.  Using temperature-sensitive radiotransmitters, we have discovered much deeper use of facultative hypothermia by such species as White-throated Sparrows and Northern Mockingbirds than previous laboratory research would suggest.  We are now investigating factors that may be contributing to variation in hypothermia use in birds and studying its ecological and evolutionary implications.         Finally, I have initiated a Northern Saw-whet Owl banding station at Phelps Wildlife Management Area, located 25 min. northwest of Fredericksburg.  Students involved with this project are gaining wildlife handling and data collection experience while helping to monitor this intriguing species' migratory distribution across Virginia's piedmont region.
*Undergraduate research students under my supervision must be at the third- or fourth-year level, maintain a 3.0 gpa or higher, and be a candidate for graduate or professional school.

Selected Publications   

• Dolby, A.S.,  C.E. Clarkson*, E.T. Haas*, J.K. Miller*, L.E. Havens*, and B.K. Cox*.  2005. Do song-phrase rate and song complexity honestly communicate parental quality in the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)? Journal of Field Ornithology.  76:288-293.  

• Dolby, A.S., J.G. Temple, L.E. Williams*, E.A. Dilger*, K.M. Stechler*, and V.S. Davis*. 2004. Facultative rest-phase hypothermia in free-ranging white-throated sparrows. The Condor 106:386-390.
  

• Dolby, A.S. and T.C. Grubb, Jr. 2000. Social context affects risk-taking by a satellite species in a mixed-species foraging group. Behavioral Ecology.  11:110-114.

•  Dolby, A.S. and T.C. Grubb, Jr. 1998. Benefits to satellite members in mixed-species foraging groups: an experimental analysis.  Animal Behaviour.  56:501-509.

                * UMW undergraduate research student

• Board of Directors Member:  Virginia Society of Ornithology (2005-Present)

• Research Committee Chair: Virginia Society of Ornithology (2003-Present)

• Biology Section Vice-Chair: Virginia Academy of Science (2005-06)
  

• Biology Section Secretary: Virginia Academy of Science (2006-07)

• Graduate Record Exam essay reader (2002-Present)                                

Honors and Awards

• Jepson Fellow, University of Mary Washington (2004-05)

• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Zoology, Ohio State University (1997)

• Best Student Presentation Award, American Ornithologists' Union Annual Meeting, (1997)

• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, College of Arts and Sciences, Colorado State University (1993)

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