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Department of Biology


Clare C. Weickert Whittaker

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*  Specialty: Mammalogy; Zoology; Wildlife/Habitat Relationships.

 

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Teaching:   

*  Fall

*  Biology 102:  Introductory Biology

 

*  Biology 314:  Zoology  (odd years)

 

*  Biology 402: General Parasitology  (even years)

 

 

*  Spring

 

            *  Biology 102:  Introductory Biology

 

*  Biology 313: Botany  (odd years)

*  Biology 490: Special Topics:Animal Behavior   (even years)

 

*  Other Courses Taught

 

*  Biology 100 & 101:  Introductory Biology and Lab

 

*  Biology 151: Principles of Biology I (Lab)

 

*  Biology 152: Principles of Biology II (Lab)

 

*  Biology 321: Invertebrate Biology

*  Biology 490: Special Topics:Animal Behavior

 

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Research Interests                                                                                                                                      

My dissertation research involves a three-year study of enclosed elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) at the Tennessee Valley Authority's (now Forest Service’s) Land Between The Lakes (LBL) in western Kentucky. Both species were extirpated from this region more than 100 years ago, and only a few free-ranging elk herds have been reestablished east of the Mississippi River. Since 1996 at LBL, elk and bison have been coexisting in a mixed-habitat, approximately 304-ha enclosure encompassing warm- and cool-season grasslands, pine stands, and oak-hickory forest. My primary goals are to investigate possible competition between the two ungulate species and to examine their impact upon the available habitat in the enclosure.

I analyzed elk and bison fecal samples collected on a monthly basis for 36 months to determine and compare the percentage of various plant taxa present in each ungulate species' diet during each month. In addition, in each of six different habitat types, I am estimating percent cover of plant taxa in four different vertical strata (ranging from ground level to two m), clipping forage in sample plots by species or forage type, and weighing the oven-dried clippings to estimate available forage. These estimates may be compared to ungulate diet composition and examined in their own right as an indication of ungulate foraging effects upon the plant community.

                          

In addition to my dissertation project, I have collaborated with Joe Whittaker and George Feldhamer on a study at the LBL site examining potential impacts of introduced elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison) on small mammals within the enclosure.

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Highlights

*  Education:

*  1993 - B.S. Biology/B.A. English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill                

 

*  A.B.D. -  Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL Dissertation Title: "Enclosed elk and bison at Land Between The Lakes, Kentucky: Resource use overlap and habitat impacts"          

SIUC

 

*  Membership:

 

*  American Society of Mammalogists

*  National Science Teachers Association

*  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

*  Sigma Xi

*  The Nature Conservancy

*  The Wildlife Society

 

*  Awards:

 

*  1993 - B.S. Biology with Honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

*  1993 - Rachel Carson Fellow, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI & SU)

*  1996-1999 - Morris Fellow, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

 

*  Presentations:

 

*  June 2000 - Weickert, C. C., J. C. Whittaker, and G. A. Feldhamer. A comparison of botfly (Cuterebra spp.) infestation levels in two Peromyscus leucopus populations of different densities. 80th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Durham, NH.

 

*  April 1999 - Weickert, C. C., J. C. Whittaker, and G. A. Feldhamer. Impact of large ungulates on small mammal fauna at Land Between The Lakes, Kentucky. 91st Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Science. Carbondale, IL.

 

*  March 1999 - Weickert, C. C., J. C. Whittaker, and G. A. Feldhamer. Impact of large ungulates on small mammal fauna at Land Between The Lakes, Kentucky. Eighth Symposium on the Natural History of the Lower Tennessee and Cumberland River Valleys. Land Between The Lakes.

 

*  March 1999 - Weickert, C. C., R. R. Cavanaugh, and J. H. Burde. Elk and bison in Kentucky -- implications for ecology and management. Sigma Xi Research Day, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Carbondale, IL.

 

*  June 1998 - Weickert, C. C., R. R. Cavanaugh, and J. H. Burde. Elk and bison in Kentucky -- implications for ecology and management. 78th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Blacksburg, VA.

 

*  Work Experience:

 

*  Fall 2002 to Present - Assistant Professor, Pikeville College (Courses include: Introduction to Biology and Lab, Principles of Biology Lab, Botany, Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, Parasitology, Special Topics: Animal Behavior, and Lab Internship (Biology))

 

*  Fall 1997 and Spring 1999 - Teaching Assistant, Southern Illinois University (Organized, prepared and led labs, gave introductory lab lectures, wrote and corrected quizzes and lab exams and proctored and assisted grading lecture exams. Lab courses taught include Mammalogy and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Evolution)

 

*  April 1995 to July 1996 - Wildlife Management Apprentice, Tennessee Valley Authority's Land Between The Lakes (LBL) (Conducted surveys for deer, breeding birds, bats, small mammals, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, pine snakes, osprey and bald eagles; Compiled statistics and wrote annual deer harvest report; worked deer and turkey check stations; redeveloped deer, turkey, and small game hunting and angling guides; assisted with trapping/relocation of nuisance wildlife; wrote and edited reports and internal staff updates)

 

*  July to December 1994 - Research technician, VPI & SU (Conducted scientific literature searches; wrote critical reviews; dissected and prepared biological samples)

 

*  May to June 1994 - Research Assistant, VPI & SU (Conducted field work in avian ecology involving netting, banding, and monitoring of Eastern meadowlarks in south-central Florida)

 

*  September 1992 to May 1993 - Student Researcher, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Honors independent research involving field work, thesis and seminar presentation; investigated dominance hierarchies and "home-court" effect in wintering flocks of white-throated sparrows at Mason Farm Biological Preserve, Chapel Hill, NC)

 

*  May to August 1990 and 1991 - Intern, Toxicology Department, Glaxo, Inc. in Research Triangle Park, NC (Prepared, ran and scored Ames assays; prepared solutions and carried out other laboratory duties; compiled publications database; data entry)

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Back to the Department of Biology

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Contact Information

*  E-mail: cwhittak@pc.edu

*  Office Number and Phone: Armington 106,  606-218-5470

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PC / Division of Science / Biology / Faculty / CWhittaker
URL: http://campus.pc.edu/faculty/cwhittak/index.html
Last updated: 08/11/08 / CCWW