Home Research Publications
Rindy C. Anderson Postdoctoral Research Associate Duke University, Department of Biology PO Box 90338, Durham NC 27708
ph. 919-660-0927
rca9@duke.edu
Education:
Ph.D. 2006, University of Miami, Biology
Dissertation: Song as an aggressive signal in the song sparrow Melospiza melodia
M.S. 2000, University of San Diego, Marine Science
Thesis: Behavioral responses of California sea lions Zalophus californianus to novel stimuli and the effects of motivational state
B.S. 1994, Arizona State University, Zoology
Positions:
Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University, 2006-present
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Miami, Biology, 2001-2006
Research Biologist, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 1999-2001
Research Assistant, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, 1996-1999
Publications:
Anderson, R. (2009). Operant conditioning and copulation solicitation display assays reveal a stable preference for local song by female swamp
sparrows Melospiza georgiana. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, in press.
Prather JF, Nowicki S, Anderson RC, Peters S, Mooney R. (2009). Neural correlates of categorical perception in learned vocal communication.
Nature Neuroscience 12: 221-228.
Anderson RC, Searcy WA, Peters S and Nowicki S. (2008). Soft song in the song sparrow: acoustic analysis and implications for signal function.
Ethology, 114(7): 662-676.
Searcy WA, Anderson RC and Nowicki S. (2008). Is bird song a reliable signal of aggressive intent? A reply. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology,
62: 1213–1216.
Anderson RC, Searcy WA, Nowicki S. (2008). Testing the function of song matching in birds: responses of eastern song sparrows
(Melospiza melodia) to partial song matching. Behaviour, 145: 347-363.
Anderson RC, Nowicki S & Searcy WA. (2007). Soft song in song sparrows: response of males and females to an enigmatic signal.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 61: 1267-1274.
Hughes M, Anderson RC, Searcy WA, Bottensek LM & Nowicki S. (2007). Song type sharing and territory tenure in eastern song sparrows:
implications for the evolution of song repertoires. Animal Behaviour , 73: 701-710.
Searcy WA, Anderson RC, & Nowicki S. (2006). Bird song as a signal of aggressive intent. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology , 60: 234-241.
Anderson RC, Searcy WA & Nowicki S. (2005). Partial song matching in an eastern population of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia).
Animal Behaviour, 69:(1), 189-196.
Wolski LF, Anderson RC, Bowles AE & Yochem PK (2003). Measuring hearing in the harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina ): Comparison of behavioral
and auditory brainstem response techniques. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , 113:(1), 629-636.
Funding and Fellowships:
Duke University Preparing Future Faculty Fellowship, 2007-2008.
Award to attend NSF ADVANCE Workshop: Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position, Rice University, October 2007.
G. Murray McKinley Research Grant, 2007.
Duke University Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Travel Award, April 2007.
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, 2005-2007.
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid Student Research Award, April 2004.
Animal Behaviour Society Student Research Grant, March 2004.
Jay M. Savage Research Support Award, University of Miami Biology Dept., 2002.
Association of Graduate Women in Science Travel Grant (Tau chapter), 1998.
Hughes Fellowship (NSF Biology Research Experience for Undergraduates) 1993-1994.
Professional and Research Experience:
Completed course: Introduction to College Teaching, Duke University , Spring 2008.
Research Assistant, University of Miami , 2002, 2004-2006. Field and laboratory research support to dissertation supervisor William Searcy.
Co-principal Investigator, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI), 1999-2001. Acoustic analysis o f Commerson's dolphin vocalizations and ontogeny of sound production in a calf .
Project Manager, HSWRI, 1999-2001. Project: Manatee responses to novel fishing gear. Funded by Florida Department Fish & Wildlife, P.I.: Ann E. Bowles.
Acoustics Technician, HSWRI, 1999-2001. Project: Effects of helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft noise on the reproductive success of the California Gnatcatcher and Least Bell's Vireo. Funded by the U.S. Marine Corps. P.I.: Don Hunsaker.
Research Assistant, HSWRI, 1998-1999. Project: Measuring the effects of simulated sonic booms on the hearing and physiology of pinnipeds using electrophysiological methods. Funded by BBN Systems and Technologies for NASA, P.I.: Ann E. Bowles.
Project Manager, HSWRI, 1997-1999. Project: Responses of captive cetaceans and pinnipeds to gillnets and pingers. Funded by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS) and SeaWorld, Inc, P.I.: Ann E. Bowles.
Field Research Assistant, HSWRI, 1996. Project: Harbor porpoise gillnet entanglement and pinger transmission. Funded by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS), P.I.: Ann Bowles.
Teaching Experience:
Instructor, University of Miami , 2006. Designed and instructed an upper-level undergraduate seminar course, BIL 374, Topics in Behavioral Ecology.
Teaching Assistant, University of Miami , 2001, 2003. Instructed General Biology laboratory courses.
Professional Activities:
Manuscript reviewer for the journals Animal Behavior, Behavioral Ecology, Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, Ethology, Journal of Avian Biology, Journal of Field Ornithology, Bird Behavior, Physiology & Behavior.
Member: Animal Behavior Society; International Society for Behavioral Ecology; Sigma Xi; National Postdoctoral Association
Papers Presented:
Anderson, R.C., Peters, S. and Nowicki, S. Early experience with local song enhances dialect discrimination in female swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana). Spoken Presentation, 2009 Rockefeller University Birdsong Worskshop.Anderson , R.C. Testing song preferences using operant conditioning and copulation display assays in female swamp sparrows Melospiza georgiana. Spoken presentation, Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Snowbird, Utah , August 2008. Anderson , R.C. Testing the function of soft song: the cardiac response as a measure of song perception. Spoken presentation, Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Burlington, Vermont, July 2007.Anderson , R.C., Searcy, W.A. & Nowicki, S. Costs and benefits of soft song as an aggressive signal in song sparrows: male response. Spoken presentation, Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Snowbird, Utah , August 2005.Anderson , R.C., Searcy, W.A. & Nowicki, S. Partial song matching in an eastern population of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Spoken presentation, Animal Behaviour Society Meeting, Boise State University, July 2003.Anderson , R.C., Bowles, A.E., Wolski, L.F. and Alves , C.A. , 1999. Visual and acoustic behaviors of three dolphin species exposed to gillnetting and pingers: insights into interspecies differences in pinger efficacy. Poster, Thirteenth Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, Maui , Hawaii , November-December 1999.Anderson , R.C., Bowles, A.E., Wolski, L.F., and Stinson, H.L., 1998. Behavioral responses and habituation of captive harbor seals, California sea lions, and Commerson's dolphins to nets and pingers. Spoken presentation, World Marine Mammal Society Conference, Monaco , January 1998.