F. Stephen Dobson

Associate Professor

Ecology, Mammalogy

OFFICE: 349 Funchess Hall

LAB: 320 Funchess Hall

E-MAIL: fdobson@acesag.auburn.edu

Honors/Awards

• Poste Rouge Award, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France (1997)
• Professeur Invite, Laboratoire d'Ethology Experimentale et Comparee, Universite Paris (1995)
• Research Fellow, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (1995)
• Visiting Faculty Fellow, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia (1993, 1994, 1996)
• Grantee, National Science Foundation, International Programs (1990-1992)

Research/Interests

My interests focus on the behavioral ecology, population biology, evolutionary ecology, and conservation biology of mammals. Most of my field work is on ground-dwelling squirrels and pikas in alpine environments. Recent research has emphasized international programs of field work in Canada, Europe, and Asia. My graduate students conduct their own independent research programs, but we share a common curiosity about the behavior, ecology, evolution, genetics, and conservation of mammals.

Completed Theses/Dissertations

John D. Wigginton. M.S. 1992, Zoology. Thesis title: "Geographic variation of the bobcat (Felis rufus) in relation to environmental variables."

Matthew J. Brady. M.S. 1994, Zoology. Thesis title: "The effect of nest site availability on the population dynamics of the southern flying squirrel."

Mary S. Shields. M.S. 1997, Zoology. Thesis title: "Sexual selection and the dietary color preferences of house finches."

Yuchi Wu. M.S. 1997, Zoology. Thesis title: "Biogeographic studies of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)."

Theses/Dissertations in Progress

Madan K. Oli. Ph.D. candidate. Dissertation proposal title: "Elasticity analysis and body size allometry: implications for population dynamics and life history variation in mammals."

Thomas S. Risch. Ph.D. candidate. Dissertation proposal title: "Costs of reproduction and the evolution of litter size in the southern flying squirrel."

Jinping Yu. Ph.D. candidate. Dissertation proposal title: "Rarity and commonness of mammalian species and the importance of rarity to conservation biology."

Selected Publications

Dobson, F.S., R.K. Chesser, J.L. Hoogland, D.W. Sugg, and D.L. Foltz. 1997. Do black-tailed prairie dogs minimize inbreeding? Evolution 51:970-978.

Dobson, F.S., and G.R. Michener. 1995. Maternal traits and reproduction in Richardson's ground squirrels. Ecology 76:851-862.

Dobson, F.S., and J. Yu. 1993. Rarity in Neotropical forest mammals revisited. Conservation Biology 7:586- 591.

Dobson, F.S. 1992. Body mass, structural size, and life history patterns of the Columbian ground squirrel. American Naturalist 140:109-125.

Dobson, F.S. 1990. Environmental influences on infanticide in Columbian ground squirrels. Ethology 84:3-14.

Dobson, F.S., and J.O. Murie. 1987. Interpretation of intraspecific life history patterns: evidence from Columbian ground squirrels. American Naturalist 129:382-397.

Dobson, F.S. 1982. Competition for mates and predominant juvenile male dispersal in mammals. Animal Behaviour 30:1183-1192.