Jennifer A. Smith, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio
Past Research
From Apr. 2015 - Aug 2018, I conducted research across numerous labs as a Research Scientist at Virginia Tech (Walters lab, Haas Lab, and Mims Lab). My research in the Walter's Lab focused on habitat use and population viability of endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in northeastern North Carolina. The population in this region is unique because it occurs in habitat unlike the typical habitat of the species (i.e. open pine communities).
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I also evaluated the effectiveness of the Safe Harbor Program, an incentive program used to promote the conservation of imperriled species, on the breeding productivity of Red-cockaded Woodpecker on private lands in the North Carolina Sandhills.
My PhD at the University of Birmingham, UK (supervisors: Dr Jim Reynolds & Prof. Graham Martin) focused on the effects of supplementary feeding on the reproductive behavior of woodland passerines. I provided empirical evidence that food supplementation affected both the phenology and behaviors underlying nest construction and incubation, but had little effect on brood provisioning behavior, sex allocation, or paternity. Results from my study have been provided to a large international bird food company that are using them to develop recommendations for garden bird feeding.
After completing my PhD, I held a short-term Postdoctoral Research Associate position at Virginia Tech (Fraser lab) in which I assessed the effects of land development activities on the behavior of threatened Crested Caracaras in Florida. By using satellite- and cellular-based telemetry data, I developed a spatially explicit habitat model that will be used in conservation efforts to identify lands suitable for development and those that should be managed for caracaras in Florida.
During my second Postdoctoral Research Associate position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Powell lab), I built on my previous research by investigating the indirect effects of wind energy development on Greater Prairie-Chickens, a species of conservation concern primarily inhabiting private lands. Specifically, I took a mechanistic approach to identify the factors underlying the indirect effects of wind energy development on Greater Prairie-Chicken survival. By simultaneously investigating the effects of a wind farm on the predation risk and survival of Greater Prairie-Chickens, I provided evidence that avoidance behavior of wind energy development by avian predators may influence the survival of prairie grouse. I also demonstrated that potential disturbance at the wind energy facility influences the male lekking behavior of Greater Prairie-Chickens, but has no effect on female, nest, or brood survival. Research outputs from this study are being used to develop siting guidelines that minimize the potential impacts of wind energy development on Greater Prairie-Chickens, and to identify appropriate land management strategies that encourage private landowners to manage habitat for this species of conservation concern.
Safe Harbor property in the NC Sandhills
RCW habitat, northeastern NC