Gabriella Jukkala
I joined the Sperry Lab in February 2019 to begin the field research for my master’s project on the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) at the Fort Hood Military Installation in central Texas, where I spent two seasons in 2017 and 2018 working with the species as a University of Illinois field biologist for a long-term monitoring program. I am broadly interested in the applied ecology, demography, and conservation of birds, but especially of declining, threatened, and endangered species. More specifically, I am interested in using applied ecological and demographic research to yield practical knowledge and management strategies that can be used for species recovery.
For my master’s project, I am investigating mechanisms of nest success for the Golden-cheeked Warbler across different age groups and habitats using demographic, spatial, and behavioral data. I will also be determining adult diet from fecal samples using DNA metabarcoding. The goal of this study is to help inform the species’ conservation plan and identify additional areas where management strategies could be used to aid in recovery.
Publications:
Jukkala, G. and W. Piper. 2015. Common loon parents defend chicks according to both value and vulnerability. Journal of Avian Biology. 46(6): 551-558. DOI: 10.1111/jav.00648.
