Revised 18 November 2008

M. Elsbeth McPhee

Cornell University

223 Uris Hall

Ithaca, New York 14853

607-254-6491, 607-257-2301

mem247 at cornell.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management

University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources & Environment, 2002

Dissertation: Effects of Captivity on Behavior and Morphology in the Oldfield Mouse Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus

*recipient of the University of Michigan’s Distinguished Dissertation Award

M.S. in Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management

University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources & Environment, 1998

Thesis: Behavioral Research on Captive Mammals: Its Purpose, Effectiveness, and Perception

Post-baccalaureate studies in biology

Loyola University Chicago, 1994-1996

B.A. in Music History, Scripps College, Claremont, California, 1989

Thesis: Ruth Crawford Seeger: Protégée, Innovator, Activist

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Robert Johnston Lab, Cornell University, July 2006 to present

Visiting Assistant Professor, The College of William and Mary, August 2005 to July 2006

American Association of University Women Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Saint Louis Zoo, August, 2003 to July 2005

Lecturer, School of Natural Resources and the Environment/Program in the Environment; University of Michigan, January to April 2003

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Behavioral ecology, conservation biology, evolutionary ecology, behavioral responses to novel environments (particularly captive vs wild comparisons), small population dynamics

PUBLICATIONS

In Press

McPhee, M.E. and K. Carlstead. Effects of Captivity on the Behavior of Wild Mammals. In: Wild Mammals in Captivity, Vol. 2. Editors, D.G. Kleiman, M. Allen, and K. Thompson. (Invited submission)

Submitted

delBarco-Trillo, J., K. Gulewicz, A. Segal, M. E. McPhee, R. E. Johnston. Captivity increases female receptivity leading to inter-species mating in hamsters, Mesocricetus spp. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

McPhee, M.E., B. Yoon, and R.E. Johnston. Cranial shape and size differ significantly between laboratory and wild golden hamsters. Journal of Zoology

Under Revision

McPhee, M.E. and N.F. McPhee. Relaxed selection increases trait variance and decreases reintroduction success in simulated populations. Animal Conservation

McPhee, M. E., A. Segal, and R. E. Johnston. Effects of predation risks on daily activity patterns in golden hamsters.

Refereed

delBarco-Trillo, J., M. E. McPhee, R.E. Johnston. 2009. Nonagonistic familiarity decreases aggression in male Turkish hamsters, Mesocricetus brandti. Animal Behaviour, 77:389-393, doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.10.012.

McPhee, M.E., A.E. Ribbeck, R.E. Johnston. 2009. Male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) are more reactive than females to a visual predator cue. Journal of Ethology, 27:137-141, DOI 10.1007/s10164-008-0099-7.

Gattermann, R., R. E. Johnston, R. N. Yigit, P. Fritzsche, S. Larimer, S. Özkurt, K. Neumann, Z. Song, E. Colak, J. Johnston, and M. E. McPhee. 2008. Golden hamsters are nocturnal in captivity but diurnal in nature. Biology Letters, 4:253-255.

McPhee, M. E. and E. S. Silverman. 2004. Determining release population size: Incorporation of behavioral and morphological variation due to captivity. Conservation Biology, 18(3):705-715.

McPhee, M. E. 2004. Morphological change in wild and captive oldfield mice, Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. Journal of Mammalogy, 85:1130-1137.

McPhee, M. E. 2003. Generations in captivity increases behavioral variance: Considerations for captive breeding and reintroduction programs. Biological Conservation, 115:71-77.

*4th most downloaded paper in Biological Conservation, Oct 2003-Sept 2004

McPhee, M. E. 2003. Effects of captivity on response to a novel environment in the oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus). International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 16:85-94.

McPhee, M. E. 2002. Effects of captivity on behavior and morphology in the oldfield mouse, Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

McPhee, M. E. 2002. Intact carcasses as enrichment for large felids: Effects on on- and off-exhibit behaviors. Zoo Biology, 21: 37-48.

McPhee, M.E., J.S. Foster, M. Sevenich, and C.D. Saunders. 1998. Public perceptions of behavioral enrichment: Assumptions gone awry. Zoo Biology, 17: 525-534.

McPhee, M. E. 1998. Behavioral Research on Captive Mammals: Its Purpose, Effectiveness, and Perception. Master's Thesis, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan.

Non-refereed

McPhee, M. E. and E. Silverman. 2004. Behavioral Deficiencies and the Reintroduction of Animals into the Wild. The Conservation Behaviorist, 2(1):5 (Invited contribution).

Fascione, N. and M. E. McPhee. 2001. Carnivore conservation in the twenty-first century. Endangered Species UPDATE, 18(4): 97.

McPhee. M. E. 1998. The Audubon guide to seafood revisited. Endangered Species UPDATE, 15(6): 105-107.

consulting and contractual experience

2008 Research contract with the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City, FL.

Working with Dr. Devra Kleiman to develop and test protocols for the reintroduction of endangered beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) in the panhandle of Florida.

GRANTS

2004 $30,000 American Post Doctoral Fellowship, American Association of University Women

2002 $2,673 Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Dissertation Research Grant

2001 $10,190 Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Pre-Doctoral Fellowship

$2,000 Pittsburgh Zoological Society: Dissertation Research Grant

$1,300 School of Natural Resources and Environment, Alumni Incentives Internship Program: Dissertation Internship Grant

$450 Sigma Xi: Dissertation Research Grant

2000 $7,500 Vice President for Research, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Distinguished Faculty and Graduate Student Seminar Grant

$4,085 Chicago Zoological Society: Dissertation Research Grant

$3,780 Edna Bailey Sussman Fund: Dissertation Internship Grant

$3,000 Cleveland Zoological Society: Dissertation Research Grant

$3,000 Chevron Corporation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$1,500 Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Dissertation Research Grant

$1,000 Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Harold and Vivian Shapiro Award

$800 Sigma Xi: Dissertation Research Grant

$400 School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan: Dissertation Research Grant

1999 $5,000 Turner Foundation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$3,000 Chevron Corporation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$1,500 Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan: Dissertation Research Grant

$1,500 Denver Zoological Society: Dissertation Research Grant

1998 $144,301 Packard Foundation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$15,000 Packard Foundation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$2,000 Boone & Crockett Club Endangered Species UPDATE

$3,000 Chevron Corporation: Endangered Species UPDATE

$2,000 George Gund Foundation: Endangered Species UPDATE

1997 $10,000 Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund: Endangered Species UPDATE

HONORS and AWARDS

2004 American Post Doctoral Fellowship, American Association of University Women, $30,000

2003 Distinguished Dissertation Award-presented by the University of Michigan to eight of 611 doctoral graduates in recognition of the most exceptional scholarly work produced by doctoral students in 2002, $1000

2002 Samuel A. Graham Award-presented by faculty and administration of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, for outstanding writing and communication skills, $2000

2001 Howard M. Wright Memorial Prize-presented by faculty and administration of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, for outstanding graduate performance, $100

2000 Invited member Sigma Xi Research Society

Article in Rackham Alumni Magazine, University of Michigan

Buffalo Award for Science and Nature-presented by faculty and administration of the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan

1997 Allen Schultz Memorial Award-presented by the School of Natural Resources and Environment for outstanding graduate performance

1996 Merit Award, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, $550

1995 Invited member of Golden Key Honor Society

1989 Pattison Music Award - outstanding graduate in the field of music, Scripps College

Outstanding Graduate - presented by the Alumnae Association in recognition of outstanding contribution to the life of Scripps College

Elected to Scripps College Board of Trustees

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND SERVICE

Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences

• Founding member

Animal Behavior Society

• Conservation Biology committee, 2008-present

American Society of Mammalogists

American Zoo and Aquarium Association

• Animal Welfare Committee, scientific advisor, 2001-2002

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, invited member

Society for Conservation Biology

• Treasurer, Michigan Chapter, 1998-2000

• moderated session, 2008 meeting

Society for the Study of Evolution

• moderated session, 2008 meeting

Paper reviews

• Animal Behaviour

• Animal Conservation

• Applied Animal Behavior Science

• Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

• Biological Conservation

• Conservation Biology

• Ethology

• Oecologia

INVITED LECTURES

Hofstra University, Hemphstead, NY, 2008

University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden, 2007

- 2 lectures, and opposition for thesis defense

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2006

College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, 2005

Association of University Women, North County Chapter, St. Louis, MO, 2005

Ann Arbor Public Library, Ann Arbor, MI, 2003

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Evolution course, 2003

University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 2002

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Wildlife Behavior course, 2002

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Faculty/Ph.D. Research Symposium, 2002

Florida International University, Miami, FL, Wildlife Behavior course, 2001

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Conservation Biology course, 1999

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Wildlife Behavior course, 1999

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

McPhee, M. E.*, A. Segal, R. E. Johnston. Effects of predation risks on daily activity patterns in golden hamsters (Poster). Biennial Congress of the International Society of Behavioral Ecology, 9 to 15 August 2008, Ithaca, New York.

McPhee, M. E. Effects of captivity on pelage color in the oldfield mouse (Poster). Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, 14 to 17 July 2008, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

McPhee, M. E.*, B. Yoon, R. E. Johnston. Differences in skull morphology between wild and captive populations of golden hamsters. Evolution 2008, 20 to 24 June 2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

McPhee, M. E.*, S. Larimer, P. Fritzche, and R. Johnston. Activity patterns of wild golden hamsters: The importance of ecology. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, 21 to 25 July 2007, Burlington, Vermont.

Johnston, R. E.*, M. E. McPhee, S. Larimer, Z. Song, J. Johnston. Natural history of golden hamsters. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, 21 to 25 July 2007, Burlington, Vermont.

McPhee, M. E.* and N. F. McPhee. Application of individual-based modeling to reintroduction planning. Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, 29 July to 2 August 2004, New York, New York.

McPhee, M. E.* and E. Silverman. Calculation of release numbers for reintroduction programs I: Considering increased variation in normally distributed traits. Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, 28 June to 2 July 2003, Duluth, Minnesota.

Silverman, E.* and M. E. McPhee. Calculation of release numbers for reintroduction programs II: Considering variance changes in non-normally distributed traits. Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, 28 June to 2 July 2003, Duluth, Minnesota.

McPhee, M. E. Public perceptions of captive animal welfare. Annual Meeting of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, 9 to 14 September 2001, Ft. Worth, Texas.

McPhee, M. E. Generations in captivity increases behavioral variance: Considerations for captive breeding and reintroduction programs. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, 14 to 17 July 2002, Bloomington, Indiana.

Silverman, E.* and M. E. McPhee. Determining release population size: Incorporation of behavioral and morphological variation due to captivity. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, 14 to 17 July 2002, Bloomington, Indiana.

McPhee, M.E. Effects of captivity on predator response behavior in the oldfield mouse, Peromyscus polionotus subgriseus. Annual Meeting of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, 6 to 12 September 2001, St. Louis, Missouri.

McPhee, M.E., J.S. Foster, M. Sevenich, and C.D. Saunders. Public Perceptions of Behavioral Enrichment. Third International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, 12 to 17 October 1997, Orlando, Florida.

McPhee, M.E., J.S. Foster, M. Sevenich, and C.D. Saunders. Public Perceptions of Behavioral Enrichment. Annual Meeting of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, 17 to 21 September 1996, Honolulu, Hawaii.

* presenter

ACADEMIC SERVICE

Participant in 2-day planning workshop for the Environmental Studies Program at The College of William and Mary; 12-13 January 2006

STUDENT ADVISING

Committee member

Opponent for Jennie Håkansson, Linköping University, Sweden, PhD Thesis: Behaviour and genetics of red junglefowl in captive populations: models for ex-situ conservation of animals. Defended 23 November 2007.

Chris Brown, The College of William and Mary, Honor’s Thesis: Genetic Algorithm Evolution of Food Webs. Graduated May 2006.

Jennifer DeCuir, The College of William and Mary, Honor’s Thesis: Quorum-sensing through Autoinducer-2 in Helicobacter pylori. Graduated May 2006.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Behavioral Response to Environmental Change, Biology 404, 504 Biology Department, The College of William and Mary (Spring 2006)

A three-credit seminar that explores emerging research in behavioral innovations and then connects these ideas to wildlife conservation.

Seminar on Climate Change, Environmental Studies 250 Environmental Studies Program, The College of William and Mary (Spring 2006)

A one-credit seminar organized by the Environmental Studies Program. This program brings in prominent outside speakers to give a public lecture on various issues of climate change. After each speaker, the enrolled students break into 12 sections that meet independently to discuss the talk and assigned readings.

Conservation Biology, Biology 404,504 Biology Department, The College of William and Mary (Fall 2005)

A four-credit lecture course with lab for undergraduates and Master's students; covered fundamental ecological concepts and how they relate to biodiversity conservation. Topics covered include evolutionary change, small populations, habitat dynamics, economics, species abundance, human behavioral ecology, and captive breeding.

Writing: Biological Science, Biology 300 Biology Department, The College of William and Mary (Fall 2005, spring 2006)

A section required for all undergraduates for which they work closely with a professor on their writing skills.

Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology, BIOL 6889 Biology Department, University of Missouri-St. Louis (Fall 2004)

A two-credit graduate seminar that explores the interface of behavioral ecology and conservation biology

Introduction to Environmental Analysis, NRE 239 School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan (Winter 2003)

A four-credit undergraduate required lecture and lab course designed to introduce students to the measurement, representation, description, and visualization of data. I cover basic statistical concepts such as mode, median, dispersion, and distribution, in addition to sampling, analysis of bivariate data, probability, and effective communication of science.

Methods in Behavioral Ecology, NRE 416 School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan (Fall 2002; teaching assistant)

A two-credit graduate and upper-level undergraduate lab course covering collection, analysis, and presentation of behavioral data. This course builds upon a lecture course, Wildlife Behavioral Ecology. Methods in Behavioral Ecology emphasizes hypothesis driven research based in fundamental evolutionary theory. The students are taken into several different field situations and are expected to observe behavior, develop hypotheses and predictions, collect appropriate data, analyze those data, and present a final paper to the class.

Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Biology, NRE 639 School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan (Fall 1998; Fall 2001)

A two-credit graduate seminar that explored the interface of behavioral ecology and conservation biology; included weekly invited outside speakers such as Andy Dobson (Princeton University), Devra Kleiman (Smithsonian Institute), and Peter Arcese (University of British Columbia)

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Editor, The Endangered Species Update, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 1997 to December 2001.

President, Nic Freitag Farms, Inc., Monticello, Wisconsin, 2001 to present.

Annual Fund Coordinator, The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois, January 1992 to May 1994.

Community Campaigns Coordinator, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, January 1990 to January 1992.