John F. Cavitt, Ph. D.

 

Professor of Zoology
Weber State University
About

Courses

Research

Avian Ecology Lab

Undergraduate Research

Contact

 

Research Objectives and Interests

My current research is divided into three main areas:

I.  Foraging behavior and ecology of shorebirds and waterfowl.

FORAGING - NICHE DYNAMICS OF AMERICAN AVOCET AND BLACK-NECKED STILTS AT GREAT SALT LAKE, UTAH. 

The Avian Ecology Lab has initiated studies to examine the diet, microhabitat and feeding method of shorebirds and waterfowl at Great Salt Lake, UT. 

II. Aquatic bird survival and productivity.

FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTIVITY OF COEXISTING AQUATIC BIRDS

We have initiated a long-term study to determine the population health of shorebirds, waterfowl and waterbirds breeding within the Greater Salt Lake Ecosystem.  Over 10,000 nest records have been collected since 2003.  This data is currently being used to determine the factors affecting breeding success.

 

III. Effects of land use and management on avian populations.

My research in this area has examined:

  • Identification of nest predators

  • Landscape fragmentation effects on shorebird populations

  • The effects of forest fragmentation on avian nesting success

  • The effects of fire and grazing on avian nesting success

  • The effects of periodic fire on a tallgrass prairie snake community

 

Publications and Reports

Hall*, Lucas, J. Mull, and J.F. Cavitt. 2009. Relationship between cheatgrass coverage and the relative abundance of snakes on Antelope Island, Utah.  Western North American Naturalist 69:88-95. PDF Reprint

Cavitt, J.F. and K. Stone*. 2007.  Selenium and mercury concentrations in breeding female American Avocets at Ogden Bay, Great Salt Lake, Utah.  In: Development of a Selenium Standard for the Open Waters of the Great Salt Lake, 15pp.  State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality, Salt Lake City, UT.

Cavitt, J.F. 2007.  Concentration and effects of selenium on breeding shorebirds at Great Salt Lake.  In: Development of a Selenium Standard for the Open Waters of the Great Salt Lake, 30pp.  State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Quality, Salt Lake City, UT.

Cavitt, J.F. 2007.  Breeding productivity of shorebirds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah: 2005 - 2006 Report.  Avian Ecology Laboratory Technical Report to US Fish and Wildlife Service. Weber State University, Ogden, UT. 12pp.

Cavitt, J.F. 2006. Productivity and foraging ecology of two-coexisting shorebird species breeding at Great Salt Lake, UT: 2005 - 2006 Report.  Avian Ecology Laboratory Technical Report to Great Salt Lake Steering Committee. Weber State University, Ogden, UT.  38pp.

Stone, K. and J.F. Cavitt. 2006.  Unusual brood parasitism record at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah.  Utah Birds 19:2-5.

Cavitt, J.F. 2005.  Shorebird productivity: 2004 Report.  Avian Ecology Laboratory Technical Report. AEL 05-02. Weber State University, Ogden, UT.  

Cavitt, J.F. 2004.  Shorebird productivity: 2003 Report.  Avian Ecology Laboratory Technical Report. AEL 04-01. Weber State University, Ogden, UT.  

Pearse, A.T., J.F. Cavitt, and J.F. Cully Jr. 2004.  Effects of food supplementation on female nest attentiveness and incubation mate feeding in two sympatric wren species.  Wilson Bulletin 116:23:30. PDF reprint 76.5 KB.

*Hill, Heather. 2003. Adjustments in parental care by the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris): the effect of female condition. Proceedings of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2003, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. March 13-15, 2003.Faculty Mentor - J. F. Cavitt PDF reprint 129 KB

*Setser, K. and J.F. Cavitt. 2003. Effects of burning on snakes in Kansas, USA, tallgrass prairie.  Natural Areas Journal 23:315-319.

*Spears, L. and J.F. Cavitt. 2003. The prevalence and effects of avian pox on body condition and plumage coloration in northern Utah populations of House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus).  Utah Birds 17:25-33. PDF reprint 173 KB

Cavitt, J.F. and T.E. Martin. 2002.  The effects of forest fragmentation on brood parasitism and nest predation in eastern and western landscapes.  Studies in Avian Biology 25:73-80. PDF reprint

 Cavitt, J.F. and C.A. Haas. 2000. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). In The Birds of North America, No. 557 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

 Cavitt, J.F. 2000. Fire and a tallgrass prairie snake community. Journal of Herpetology 34:12-20. PDF reprint 586 KB

 Cavitt, J.F. 2000. Food habits of a tallgrass prairie snake community. Herpetological Review 31:47-48.PDF reprint 104 KB

 Cavitt, J.F. 1999. Potential effects of increased predation risk on nestling House Wren quality and survival. Meadowlark 8:82-87.

 Cavitt, J.F. 1999. Effects of fire and grazing on Brown Thrasher nest predation. Proceedings of the North American Prairie Conference 16:112-119. PDF reprint 571 KB

 Cavitt, J.F., A.T. Pearse*, and T.A. Miller*. 1999. Brown Thrasher nest reuse: a time saving resource, protection from search-strategy predators or cues for nest-site selection. Condor 101:859-862. PDF reprint 418 KB

 Cavitt, J.F., A.T. Pearse*, and D.A. Rintoul. 1998. Hybridization events of Sialia currucoides and Sialia sialis in northeastern Kansas. Kansas Ornithological Society Bulletin 49:21-25.

 Cavitt, J.F. and C.F. Thompson. 1997. Mass loss in breeding House Wrens: effects of food supplements. Ecology 78:2512-2523.  PDF reprint 1.47 MB

* Indicates an undergraduate student author.

 

 

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