Fernbank Science Center Faculty
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Christopher R. Showalter Ornithologist 156 Heaton Park Drive |
Chris was born and raised in the beautiful state of West Virginia. Chris attended West Virginia University and received a M.S. in Wildlife Biology with an emphasis in ornithology. His graduate work focused on the impact of repeated gypsy moth defoliations on forests and avian communities. He has worked at Fernbank Science Center since 2001. Chris spends most of his time teaching, but also enjoys curating the science center collections, designing and maintaining the FSC web site and running a MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) research station in Fernbank Forest.
Courses Taught
- Advanced Studies - Ornithology: The lives of birds
- Scientific Tools and Techniques (STT)
Research Interests
Chris's primary research interest is avian population monitoring in the Piedmont region of Georgia. However, he has a general interest in all aspects of avian ecology.
Publications
Showalter, C. R. 2008. Bird numbers decline in an old growth forest: Long-term trends in Fernbank Forest. The Oriole 73 (1-4):1-11.
Maney, D. L., Davis, A. K., Goode, C. T., Reid, A., and Showalter, C.R. (2008). Carotenoid-based plumage coloration predicts leukocyte parameters during the breeding season in northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis). Ethology 114: 369-380.
Showalter, C.R. and R.C. Whitmore. 2002. The effect of gypsy moth defoliation on cavity-nesting bird communities. Forest Science 48(2):273-281.