E. Natasha Vanderhoff

A little about me

I was born and raised in Louisville, KY (Go Cards!) and for as long as I can remember I have loved science and nature. I got my first bird book when I was twelve and from that moment on I was hooked! I traveled to the windy city for college where I attended Loyola University. I earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Anthropology and developed a love for ecology and primates. After college I chased monkeys in Suriname for year. Upon returning to Kentucky I got a job, but wasn't happy so I went back to school. Eventually I earned my doctorate in Ecology, Evolution & Behavior from the University of Louisville in Dr. Perri Eason's lab. My dissertation focused on foraging and vocal behavior of American Robins. I taught for two years in South Carolina at Francis Marion University before coming to Jacksonville University in 2009.

Teaching

I love animals and I love helping students learn about animals, whether it is a sponge, spider, or sexy bird. The courses I teach include:

Biological Diversity

Vertebrate Biology

Ornithology

Primates

Evolution

Animal Behavior

Tropical Ecology: Study Abroad Ecuador

In addition to these courses I have had several independent study students (see below).

Vertebrate Biology Class Field Trip 2014

I am a big believer in hands-on learning and most of my classes involve activities to connect students directly to the topic. Activities include games, discussions, field trips, and of course bird walks. I want students to think critically as well as gain an appreciation for the natural world.

Tropical Biology, Wildsumaco Ecuador Summer 2013

Vertebrate Biology student feeding a rhino at White Oak Conservation Center

Vertebrate Biology students on the Wakulla river looking at manatees.

Fieldtrips are a big part of many of my classes. Both my vertebrate and ornithology class visit the St. Marks area in the panhandle.

I love the neotropics and I am so happy to share the experience with students. We travel to Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary in Ecuador and stay at the biological station. We get to see all sorts of great animals and learn about this important ecosystem.

I first traveled to Ecuador in 2009 with colleagues from Francis Marion and I have been fortunate to return several times. My colleagues from FMU and UNC-Wilmington and I have studied margays and bamboo rats. For more information on the site and recent projects please visit the links above.

Ornithology students conducting point counts at Bald Point State Park in the panhandle.

A student in Ecuador holding a caecilian!

I have a facebook page (Dr. V's Birding & More) where I post recent news stories about birds, other animals, evolution and behavior.

Feel free to check it out.

Research

A Napo tamarin at Wildsumaco.

An anteater at Wildsumaco.

My core area of interest is behavioral ecology, a discipline within animal behavior that seeks to find evolutionary explanations for behavior. Basically, I enjoy watching animals and figuring out what they are doing and why. I have a passion for natural history and my best work has been inspired by my observations in the field. I find it both challenging and rewarding to devise experiments that allow me to determine the basis for behaviors that I observe. I have worked with birds, spiders, monkeys and cats, in both North and South America. Most of my research has focused on communication and foraging behavior. I am also interested in tropical ecology and conservation.

A female Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

A very handsome male Northern Cardinal.

Below is a list of current research projects:

1. Seed dispersal of the invasive camphor fruit by American Robins - I am investigating the dispersal of the invasive camphor fruit by American Robins. Camphor may be an important component in the diet of migrating robins, and robins in turn may help to disperse the invasive plant. This year we will be conducting germination studies on seeds that have passed through the gut of robins.

2. Communication in Northern Cardinals - I am investigating the chip calls of Northern Cardinals, specifically their function as well individual variation in calls. I am also interested in how the urban environment has shaped communication.

3. Color in the spiny crab spider Gasteracantha cancriformis - I am interested in the dorsal coloration in this spider and its function. Previous studies have shown that coloration may act to attract prey or warn predators and the function of color may also vary depending on habitat parameters.

If you are interested in birds, spiders or behavior come see me!!!! I love animals and I would be more than happy to help you develop a project.

I require all students that work with me to present their work at JU's Research Symposium as well as provide them an opportunity to present at meetings (usually the Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting) or even publish. This is a great opportunity to learn about science and do science.

Here are some selected student projects:

Doris Pope-Reyes (class of 2011) – Calls of the Amazonian bamboo rat (Dactylomys dactylinus). Doris analyzed calls of bamboo rats that I recorded in Ecuador using Raven bioacustic software.

Danielle D’Amato (class of 2013) – Feeding enrichment for lemurs at the Jacksonville Zoo. Danielle compared the behavior of lemurs before and after enrichment feeders were introduced.

Kelsey Cooper (class of 2013) – Monitoring Brown Pelicans Pelecanus occidentalis in Jacksonville. Kelsey did point counts at three locations around Jacksonville to determine seasonal trends in the local pelican population.

Recent Presentations:

Harden, B. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Flight initiation distance in green and brown anoles. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Montgomery, AL 2017

Cotter, J, and E. N.Vanderhoff. Anthropogenic sound pollution and Northern Cardinal calls. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Charlotte, NC April 2016

Zweygardt, S. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Does color matter? Function of color polymorphism in Gasteracantha cancriformis in Northeast Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Charlotte, NC April 2016

T. W. Knowles , B. S. Arbogast, E. N. Vanderhoff, and A.-M. C. Hodge. Mammalogy at Wildsumaco Biological Station: the first five years. Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammologist. Jacksonville, FL, June 2015

Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Brehm. Avian Dispersal of Non-native Plants in the Southern United States. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologist. Knoxville, TN April 2015

Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Brehm. Preliminary Investigation of Camphor Seed Dispersal: the Role of American Robins (Turdus migratorius). Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Spartanburg, South Carolina, April 2014

Vanderhoff, E. N., N. Campbell, and J. Enz. Preliminary Survey of Orb-weaving Spiders in an Oak Hammock Forest in Northeast Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Charleston, West Virginia, April 2013

Cooper, K. and E. N. Vanderhoff. Preliminary survey of Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, in Jacksonville, Florida. Poster Presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Charleston, West Virginia, April 2013

Vanderhoff, E. N. Antiphonal Calling and Duetting in Mammals: Do Amazonian Bamboo Rats Dactylomys dactylinus do both? Poster presentation, Association of Southeastern Biologists. Athens, Georgia, April 2012.

Publications:

Cooper, K. and E. N. Vanderhoff. 2015. Survey of Brown Pelicans in Jacksonville. Florida Naturalists 43: 69-78. (work with JU student)

Vanderhoff, N., R. Sallabanks and F.C. James. 2014. American Robin (Turdus migratorius), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.).

Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.bnaproxy.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/462

Vanderhoff, E. N., A.M. Hodge, B. Arbogast, J. Nilsson and T. Knowles. 2011. Preliminary camera-trap survey of margays (Leopardus weidii) in the eastern Andean foothills of Ecuador. Mastozoología Neotropical 18(2): 271-279

Vanderhoff, E. N. and J. Nilsson. 2010. Preliminary observations of the primates of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Ecuador. Neotropical Primates 17(2): 75-76

Grafton, B.W. and E.N. Vanderhoff. 2009. Seed dispersal by golden-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas) in Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname: preliminary results. Neotropical Primates 16(1): 47

Vanderhoff, E.N. and B.W. Grafton. 2009. Behavior of tamarins, tanagers and manikins foraging in a strangler fig (Ficus sp.) in Suriname, South America: implications for seed dispersal. Biota Neotropica 9(3): 419-423

Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2009. American Robin seet calls: Aerial alarm or a contact call? Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121:406-411.

Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2009. The response of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) to aerial alarms. Behaviour 146: 415-427.

Vanderhoff, E.N., C.J. Byers, and C.J. Hanna. 2008. Do the color and pattern of Micrathena gracilis (Araneidae) attract prey? Examination of the prey attraction hypothesis and crypsis. Journal of Insect Behavior 21:469-475.

Vanderhoff, E. N. and P. K. Eason. 2008. The role of environmental factors in adult and juvenile American robin (Turdus migratorius) foraging. Journal of Field Ornithology 79: 186-192

Vanderhoff, E.N. and P. K. Eason. 2008. Comparisons between juvenile and adult American robins foraging for mulberry. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 209-213

Vanderhoff, E.N. 2007. Predator-Prey Interaction between Turdus migratorius and Eumeces fasciatus. Canadian Field-Naturalist 121(2): 216-218.

Vanderhoff, E.N. and P.K. Eason. 2007. Disparity between adult and juvenile American robins Turdus migratorius foraging for ground invertebrates and cherry fruits. Ethology 113: 1212-1218

Danielle making enrichment feeders (top) and a ring-tailed lemur using the feeder (bottom).

Brown Pelicans at Mayport (top) and Kelsey presenting her work at Association of Southeastern Biologist meeting (bottom).

Volcano views from Wildsumaco.

The tropics make me happy.

Jennifer and I presenting at the 2015 ASB Meeting.

Sean and I presenting at the 2016 ASB Meeting.

A splendid American Robin.

More fun stuff

Ornithology 2017, another successful semester with over 120 birds spotted!

Birds of JU!!!

JU's campus is a great place to bird year round. There are two ponds on the Dolphin Green were you can see several different types of ducks and wading birds. The wooded area on the north side of campus is great for many bird species, including the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, one of seven species of woodpeckers on campus. The boardwalk to the Marine Science Institute is a great place to spot or hear a Barred Owl. There are lots of migrants that pass through JU. The Common Yellowthroat is abundant in the fall, the Northern Parula announces the arrival of spring and the Great Crested Flycatcher arrives just in time for the end of the semester! Click on the link below to see a list of birds on JU's campus. Happy Birding!

JU Bird Checklist