Students
Graduate students
USM offers a M.S. degree in Biology. For more information on the program, see the graduate program's web page.
If you are interested in pursuing graduate work in animal behavior, you should have a solid background in biology, including ecology and evolution. You also should have taken at least one undergraduate course in animal behavior. Ideally, I am looking for students who have undergraduate research experience, preferably with field work.
Current graduate students
Graduate alumni
Lisa Aschemeier
M.S. Biology, 2009
B.A. Zoology/Environmental Science, Miami University, 2007
Thesis: Eavesdropping in woodchucks and eastern chipmunks on heterospecific alarm calls
Publication: Eavesdropping of woodchucks (Marmota monax) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) on heterospecific alarm calls. Journal of Mammalogy. 92: 493-499. [PDF available]
Current employment: Lisa is a part time faculty member at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio.
Sarah Darhower
M.S. Biology, 2006
B.S. Animal Bioscience, Pennsylvania State University, 2001
Thesis: Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama)
Publication: Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama). Zoo Biology 27: 49-61. [PDF available]
Current employment: Sarah is a part time instructor at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine.
Carrie Lewis
M.S. Biology, 2011
B.S. Biology/Environmental Studies, College of William and Mary, 2006
Thesis: Kin recognition in woodchucks (Marmota monax) using scent from the oral angle gland
Current employment: Carrie is a senior consultant with Booz Allen, working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Washington, D.C.
Jennifer McKay
M.S. Biology, 2010
B.A. Communication, Marist College, 1999
Thesis: Relationship between blood mercury levels and components of male song in Nelson's sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni)
Current employment: Jen is a field biologist at Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine.
Kevin Regan
M.S. Biology, 2010
B.S. Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, 2006
Thesis :
Effects of wildfire on spatial organization of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) males
Current employment: Kevin is the Mercury Lab Manager, responsible for analyzing mercury levels in biological samples, at Biodiversity Research Institute in Gorham, Maine.
Undergraduate students
For more information about the B.S. degree in Biology, see the department's degrees web page.
I recruit undergraduate students to work with me on the woodchuck study, and some students go on to pursue their own independent research projects. Field assistants, who are hardy souls, help in setting live traps and in handling the animals, as well as videorecording animals in arena tests. Field assistants also collect data on spatial locations and on behavior, including time budgets and interactions. If you are interested in field work and don't mind spending a lot of time outside in all kinds of weather, send me an e-mail.
Student presentations
2011 Lewis, C.H. and Maher, C.R. Kin recognition in woodchucks (Marmota monax). Poster presented at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2011 Lewis, C.H. and Maher, C.R. What makes a good hibernaculum for woodchucks? Poster presented at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2010 McKay, J.L. and Maher, C.R. Effects of mercury on male song in Nelson's sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
2010 McKay, J.L. and Maher, C.R. Effects of mercury on male song in Nelson's sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni). Poster presented at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2009 Aschemeier, L.M. and Maher, C.R. Eavesdropping of woodchucks and Eastern chipmunks on heterospecific alarm calls. Poster presented at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2009 Regan, K.J. and Maher, C.R. Effects of wildfire on spatial organization of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) males. Poster presented at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2008 *Long, S. and Maher, C.R. Experimental evidence that stabilimenta in Argiope aurantia serve multiple functions. Oral presentation given at Thinking Matters: A Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Symposium.
2008 *Long, S. and Maher, C.R. Experimental evidence that stabilimenta in Argiope aurantia serve multiple functions. Seminar presented at the University of Southern Maine Biology Department's Seminar Series.
2006 Darhower, S.E. and Maher, C.R. Effects of immunocontraception on behavior in fallow deer (Dama dama). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists.
2004 *Duron, M., Maher, C.R. and *Greenleaf, M.R. Using microsatellite DNA to determine the mating system of woodchucks (Marmota monax). Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists.
2003 *Duron, M. and Maher, C.R. Using microsatellite DNA to determine genetic relationships of woodchucks. Poster presented at Annual USM Scholarship and Creativity Fair.
2001 *Rodgers, H.I. and Maher, C.R. Effects of human activity on woodchuck flight response. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
1998 Maher, C.R., *Besel, R.M. and *Blatnick, J. Effects of visitors and season on behavior patterns of captive Siberian tigers. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
1997 *Besel, R., *Blatnick, J. and Maher, C. The effects of visitor traffic and seasonal changes on captive tiger behavior. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
1996 *Besel, R. *Blatnick, J., Maher, C.R., and Kirkpatrick, J. Effects of visitors on behavior patterns of captive Siberian tigers: preliminary results. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
1996 *Lofthouse, A., Maher, C.R., and Kirkpatrick, J. Effects of environmental enrichment on captive North American river otter behavior patterns: preliminary results. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences.
*denotes undergraduate student
Undergraduate alumni
Skye Long B.S. Biology, 2008
Jessica Wright B.S. Biology, 2005
