Wesley W. Weathers, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus     Home Office: (707) 451-1907 FAX:(530) 752-0175 E-mail: wwweathers@ucdavis.edu

Education

B.S.,Zoology, San Diego State College, CA, 1964.

M.S., Zoology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 1967.

Ph.D., Zoology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 1969.

Postdoctoral, Physiology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 1969-70

Research

My research focuses on the thermal ecology and ecological energetics of wild birds. The kinds of questions that intrigue me are: 1) how does the thermal environment affect the water and energy economy of birds, and 2) how do variations in life history traits, habitat, and body size affect patterns of energy allocation to reproduction and growth. Although my research sometimes has conservation implications, I consider myself a physiological ecologist rather than a conservation biologist. Most of my research addresses fundamental questions in avian biology, and my students and I use a variety of physiological techniques to quantify thermal environments and energetics of free-living birds. Laboratory measurements of water flux and energy requirements, using open-circuit respirometry, often complement our field studies. Ideally, students working in my lab will have a good background in the quantitative sciences. My approach is fundamentally empirical, although I sometimes employ synthesis and analysis.

Selected Publications

1. Wang, J.M. and W.W. Weathers. 2009. Egg laying, egg temperature, attentiveness, and incubation in the western bluebird. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(3):512–520. 

2.  Zaun, B.J. and W.W. Weathers. 2009. Egg retrieval by the Hawaiian Goose after attempted predation by a cat. Western Birds 40:39-42. 

3. Burton, C.T. and W.W. Weathers.  2003.  Energetics and thermoregulation of the Gouldian Finch (Erythurua gouldiae).  Emu 102:1-10. 

4.  Hodum, P.J. and W.W. Weathers. 2003.  Energetics of nestling growth and parental effort in Antarctic fulmarine petrels.  Journal Experimental Biology 206:2125-2133.  

5.  Weathers, W.W., Davidson, C.L., and M. L. Morton.  2003.  Energetics of altricial nestlings in cold climates: insights from the mountain white-crowned sparrow.  Condor 105:707-718. 

6.  Weathers, W.W., Davidson, C.L., Olson, C.R., Morton, M.L., Nur, N. and T.R. Famula.  2002.  Altitudinal variation in parental energy expenditure by white-crowned sparrows.  Journal of Experimental Biology 205:2915-2924. 

7.  Weathers, W.W., P.J. Hodum and J.A. Blakesley.  2001.  Thermal ecology and ecological energetics of California Spotted Owls.  Condor 103: 678-690.