Erich E
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at University of Toronto, Scarborough
Expertise
Research, Academic Coaching, Animal Behavior, Ecology, Physiology, Biology, Environmental Science, Zoology, Hummingbird Biology, Ornithology, Writing, Statistics,
Bio
I am a biologist and academic coach driven by passions for pursuing immersive experiences in wilderness, learning about the integrative biology of organisms and ecosystems, and sharing my knowledge of and wonder for the natural world with students and fellow nature-enthusiasts. I aim to excite students about what we know about nature, how we know what we know, and what remains a mystery. I do this by exploring stories about the life history of organisms and the environments they live in, and about how science expands and evolves our understanding of the complex world we live in! I am broadly interested in the behavioral and physiological strategies animals use to manage their energy-budgets to persist and thrive in extreme environments and ecological conditions. My PhD research focused on how hummingbirds use torpor (like an overnight hibernation) to save a bunch of energy, so that they can survive and thrive in a wide range of ecological conditions. Besides studying and teaching others about the world we live in, I live for immersing myself in nature, whether it be camping, backpacking, climbing, canoing, birdwatching, or admiring the trees while strolling through woods!Project ideas
Remotely Monitoring Visitation Behavior at Bird Feeders
Broadly, my students identify a question that excites them, explore published literature on that topic, design their own study to address a specific hypothesis, perform data collection and statistical analysis, and finally tell their story in a poster or slideshow presentation, and/or written essay. My ‘bread-and-butter’ is recording animal behavior at feeding stations using low-cost and accessible remote monitoring techniques. A high school student that I mentor recently completed a project which is a perfect example of an interdisciplinary STEAM project. She engineered a realistic-looking hummingbird feeder, tested and analyzed it’s efficacy compared to a control, secured a patent for and marketed her design, and is now in the process of preparing a manuscript for submission to a scientific journal. There are hundreds of possible variations of such a project, and I would be thrilled to guide your first research experience in any topic that you are passionate about! Question: Do hummingbirds prefer a classic artificial sugar-water feeder or a hyper-realistic feeder? Hypothesis: Hummingbirds prefer and exhibit more natural feeding behaviors at a hyper-realistic feeder because it mimics a natural flower. Methodology: 1. Set up two hummingbird feeders: one classic feeder (control), one custom engineered realistic-looking feeder (treatment). 2. Record video with remote monitoring IP camera for 2 hours at peak visitation times (sunset), for 5 days. 3. Score video with an ethogram (a behavior key) to determine average visitation frequency and average length of visitation. 4. Visualize data and perform appropriate statistical analyses in R or Excel to assess hypotheses. (for more information on this project please see ebertser.wixsite.com/erich-eberts/research) Similar bird feeder/ remote monitoring questions: -How does visitation at bird feeders change throughout the day, or in different seasons? -Do hummingbirds prefer feeders with floral scent? -How does the diversity of visitors at bird feeders in two distinct locations (i.e. one in an open yard vs on the edge of the yard, or two different geographical locations)? -How does an artificial decoy alter visitor behavior at a bird feeder?