Conference Presentations

1.   Jill Benjamin, Cynthia Harte, Nathan Herzog, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Testing the body size principle at the San Diego Wild Animal Park,” presented by Jill Benjamin at the 24th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at University of California-Irvine in Irvine, California, May 1, 1999.

2.   Thomas Fitzpatrick and Michael S. Mooring.  “Optimal predators and vulnerable prey: predator-prey relations of bighorn sheep and mountain lions,” presented by Thomas Fitzpatrick at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

 3.   Ian Fraser and Michael S. Mooring.  “Grooming and the ghost of parasites past,” presented by Ian Fraser at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

4.   Jill Benjamin and Michael S. Mooring.  “Fly-defense behavior by desert bighorn sheep,” presented by Jill Benjamin at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

5.   Danielle Garcia and Michael S. Mooring.  “Exhibit preferences by visitors to the San Diego Zoo,” presented by Danielle Garcia at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

6.   Mark Houseman and Michael S. Mooring.  “Role of the dominant male in great ape societies,” presented by Mark Houseman at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

7.   Daniel Miller and Michael S. Mooring.  “Grouping against fly harassment in Calamian deer,” presented by Daniel Miller at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

8.   Amy Sheridan and Michael S. Mooring.  “Reproductive constraints on sentry behavior in meerkats,” presented by Amy Sheridan at the 25th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2000.

9.   Thomas Fitzpatrick , Tara Nishihira, Dominic Reisig, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Risk of mountain lion predation in desert bighorn sheep,” presented by Thomas Fitzpatrick at the 26th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, California, April 28, 2001.

10.   Tara Nishihira, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Dominic Reisig, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Sexual segregation in desert bighorn sheep,” presented by Tara Nishihira at the 26th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, California, April 28, 2001.

11.   Dominic Reisig, Tara Nishihira, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Grooming and fly repelling behavior in desert bighorn sheep,” presented by Dominic Reisig at the 26th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, California, April 28, 2001.

12.   Eric R. Osborne, Jason M. Niemeyer, Dominic D. Reisig, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Developmentally dimorphic grooming in ungulates,” presented by Eric Osborne at the 27th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, April 27, 2002.

13.   Dominic D. Reisig, Eric R. Osborne, Jason M. Niemeyer, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Effect of body size on fly-repelling behavior in ungulates,” presented by Dominic Reisig at the 27th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, April 27, 2002.

14.   Jason M. Niemeyer, Eric R. Osborne, Dominic D. Reisig, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Sexually dimorphic grooming in ungulates,” presented by Jason Niemeyer at the 27th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, April 27, 2002.

15.   Adam L. Kanallakan, Dominic D. Reisig, Eric R. Osborne, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Sexual segregation in bison: a test of multiple hypotheses,” presented by Adam Kanallakan at the 28th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 26, 2003.

16.   Eric W. Schaad, Brent M. Hall, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Effective population size and conservation of bison at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge” presented by Eric Schaad at the 29th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 24, 2004.

17.   Brent M. Hall, Eric W. Schaad, Jacquelynn E. Jella, Shavonne S. Fortin, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Fecal androgens of bison bulls during the rut” presented by Brent Hall at the 29th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 24, 2004.

18.   Shavonne S. Fortin, Jacquelynn E. Jella, Brent M. Hall, Eric W. Schaad, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Glucocorticoids of bison in relation to social status” presented by Shavonne Fortin and Jacquelynn Jella at the 29th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 24, 2004.

19.   Michael Dillenbeck, Kevin Yarbrough, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Glucocorticoids of bison bulls in relation to social status” presented by Michael Dillenbeck at the 30th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, April 30, 2005.

20.   Angela Merkens, Michael Dillenbeck, Timothy O’Brien, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Effect of dominance on acoustical communication in bison bulls” presented by Angela Merkens at the 31st Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2006.

21.   Timothy O’Brien, Angela Merkens, Michael Dillenbeck, and Michael S. Mooring.  “Genetic parentage of bison compared with breeding behavior” presented by Timothy O’Brien at the 31st Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 29, 2006.

22.   Daniel Sullivan and Michael S. Mooring.  “Do bison females synchronize parturition by gestation adjustment?” presented by Daniel Sullivan at the 32nd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, April 28, 2007.

23.   Daniel Sullivan*, Stefanie Eick*, and Mike Mooring.  “Role of progesterone in the estrous cycle of bison females”, presented by Daniel Sullivan and Stefanie Eick at the 33rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 12, 2008.

24.   Niccole Schultz*, Kensey Stansberry-Perkins*, Kerry Fulcher, and Mike Mooring.  “Effect of progesterone on the annual reproductive cycle of bison females”, presented by Niccole Schultz and Kensey Stansberry-Perkins at the 33rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 12, 2008.

25.   Rachel Bettes*, Mike Mooring, and Dennis Siegfried.  “Tending effort and age in relation to reproductive success in bison bulls”, presented by Rachel Bettes at the 33rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 12, 2008.

26.   Lane Votapka*, Jeremiah Minich, and Mike Mooring.  “The influence of gates on space use by plains bison”, presented by Lane Votapka at the 34th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 18, 2009.

27.   Jeremiah Minich*, Lane Votapka, and Mike Mooring.  “Space use by plains bison before versus during the rut”, presented by Lane Votapka at the 34th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 18, 2009

28.   Robert Perry*, William Taylor and Mike Mooring.  “Interactions between bison and horn flies”, presented by Robert Perry at the Celebration of the Sciences at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, November 20, 2009.

29.   William Taylor*, Robert Perry, and Mike Mooring.  “Space use by bison in relation to migration and breeding season”, presented by William Taylor at the Celebration of the Sciences at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, November 20, 2009.

30.   Mike Mooring*.  “A retrospective of seven seasons of bison research”, presented by Mike Mooring at the Celebration of the Sciences at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, November 20, 2009.

31.   Alicia Jones*, Marie Holman, Taylor Jordan, Alex Bauer, Jessica Davis, Peter Gilson, Troy Kurz, Robert Perry, Luke Tatum, Joshua Westeren, Amy Woods, Jared Yee, David Cummings, and Mike Mooring.  “Studying neotropical ecology in Costa Rica”, presented by Alicia Jones at the Celebration of the Sciences at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, November 20, 2009.

32.   William Taylor*, Caleb Bryce*, Kathryn Thompson, Robert Perry, Christian Sanders, and Mike Mooring.  “Bison space use: influence of weather, sex, and topography”, presented by William Taylor and Caleb Bryce at the 35th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, April 24, 2010.

33.   Caleb Bryce*, Jared Yee, William Taylor, Robert Perry, and Mike Mooring.  “Phototrapping elusive mammals in a Costa Rican montane cloud forest”, presented by Caleb Bryce at the 36th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, April 16, 2011.

34.   Jared Yee*, Caleb Bryce, William Taylor, Robert Perry, and Mike Mooring.  “Retrospective interviews to establish historical presence of mammals in the upper Savegre Valley of Costa Rica”, presented by Jared Yee at the 36th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, April 16, 2011.

35.   Caleb Bryce.  “Optimal survey methods for elusive mammals in a tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica”, presented at the Honors Scholar Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, 2011.

36.   Austin Fares*, Ryan Dahl*, Caleb Bryce, and Mike Mooring.  “Large mammal biodiversity in a Costa Rican montane cloud forest”, presented by Austin Fares and Ryan Dahl at the 37th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, April 21, 2012.

37.   Trisha Stull.  “Apex predators of Costa Rica: a survey of current knowledge”, presented at the Honors Scholar Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, 2012.

38.   Hannah Green.  “Behavioral cues of breeding receptivity in a female jaguar (Panthera onca)”, presented at the Honors Scholar Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, 2012.

39.   Ryan Dahl*, Jonathan Piazza*, Austin Fares, Eduardo Alvarez, and Mike Mooring.  "Invasion of a Costa Rican montane cloud forest by coyote”, presented by Ryan Dahl and Jonathan Piazza at the 38th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, April 20, 2013.

40.    Eduardo Alvarez*, Austin Fares, Ryan Dahl, Jonathan Piazza, and Mike Mooring.  “Species richness, diversity, and relative abundance of large mammals in protected areas and buffer zones of the Talamanca Cordillera, Costa Rica”, presented at the 38th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 20, 2013.

41.   Eduardo Alvarez.  “Integrating occupancy modeling and interview data to predict presence of jaguars (Panthera onca) and other large mammals in Tapanti National Park, Costa Rica”, presented at the 2014 Honors Scholar Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, 2014.

42.  Dylan Poorboy.  “Analysis of occupancy for mammalian species in the tropical montane ecosystems of Costa Rica”, presented at the 2015 Honors Scholar Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA (April 18, 2015).

43.  Dylan Poorboy*, Jessica Fowler, Carol Williams, and Mike Mooring. “Occupancy analysis of mammalian species in the tropical montane ecosystems of Costa Rica”, presented at the 40th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 25, 2015.

44.   Carol Williams*, Jessica Fowler*, Dylan Poorboy, and Mike Mooring.  “Activity budgets of elusive mammals in a Costa Rican cloud forest”, presented at the 40th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 25, 2015.

45.   Ellen Asselin*, Tanner Mathews, Jessica Fowler, Dylan Poorboy, and Mike Mooring.  “Inferring predator-prey relations of Neotropical mammals from activity budgets”, presented at the 41st Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 9, 2016.

46.   Tanner Mathews*, Ellen Asselin, Dylan Poorboy, Jessica Fowler, and Mike Mooring.  “Using scat detection dogs to investigate the population genetics of elusive felids”, presented at the 41st Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 9, 2016.

47.   Tanner Mathews*, Kirra Connolly and Mike Mooring.  “The use of scat detection dogs for the genetic analysis of felid populations in Costa Rica”, presented at the 42nd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, April 22, 2017.

48.   Kirra Connolly*, Tanner Mathews, Sarah Hennessy and Mike Mooring.  “Rapid assessment of habitat suitability for burrowing owl relocation”, presented at the 42nd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, April 22, 2017.

49.   Abner Rodriguez*, Timothy Wiegman, Wyatt Garley, Mike Mooring, and Ryan Botts.  “The relationship between the lunar cycle and activity patterns of Neotropical predator and prey species”, presented at the 43rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Saint Mary’s University, Moraga, California, April 14, 2018.

50.   Timothy Wiegman*, Abner Rodriguez, Wyatt Garley, Mike Mooring, and Ryan Botts.  “Computational analysis of population activity patterns based on camera trap data of Neotropical mammals”, presented at the 43rd Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Saint Mary’s University, Moraga, California, April 14, 2018.

51.   Amy Eppert*, Abner Rodriguez, Steven Blankenship, Timothy Wiegman, Ryan Botts, and Mike Mooring.  “Predator-prey relationships in high elevation Costa Rican ecosystems”, presented at the 44th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of San Diego, San Diego, California, April 6, 2019.

52.   Steven Blankenship*, Amy Eppert, Abner Rodriguez, Timothy Wiegman, Mike Mooring, and Ryan Botts.  “New camera trap survey reveals rare and elusive mammals at La Amistad International Park, Costa Rica”, presented at the 44th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at the University of San Diego, San Diego, California, April 6, 2019.

53. Abigail Wagner*, Amy Eppert, Steven Blankenship, Sierra Ullrich, Gabrielle Allen, Ryan Botts, and Mike Mooring. “Does moonlight increase predation risk for elusive mammals in Costa Rica?”, prepared for the 45th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles California, April 2020 [cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic].

54.   Amy Eppert*, Steven Blankenship, Sierra Ullrich, Abigail Wagner, Gabrielle Allen, Ryan Botts, and Mike Mooring. “Natural selection of melanism in Costa Rican Jaguar and oncilla: a test of Gloger’s Rule and the Temporal Segregation hypothesis”, prepared for the 45th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles California, April 2020 [cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic].

55.   Sierra Ullrich*, Amy Eppert, Steven Blankenship, Abigail Wagner, Gabrielle Allen, Ryan Botts, and Mike Mooring. “Circadian activity patterns of mammalian predators and prey in Costa Rica”, prepared for the 45th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles California, April 2020 [cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic].

56.   Dane Brizzolara* and Mike Mooring. “An analysis of soil acidity management practices by small-scale farmers in Vara Blanca, Costa Rica”, prepared for the 45th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles California, April 2020 [cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic].

57.   Amy A. Eppert, Michael S. Mooring, and Ryan T. Botts. “Natural selection of melanism in Costa Rican jaguar and oncilla”, presented at the 2020 Animal Behavior Society Virtual Conference, July 28-31, 2020.

54.   Amy A. Eppert, Ryan T. Botts, and Michael S. Mooring. “Selección natural del melanismo en jaguar y tigrillo costarricenses”, presented at presented online at Simposio Ciencía y Desarrollo Comunitario en ACLA-P, October 27, 2021.

55.   Michael S. Mooring and Amy A. Eppert. “Patrones de actividad circadiana y lunar del jaguar y el puma en relación con sus presas y competidoras”, presented online at Simposio Ciencía y Desarrollo Comunitario en ACLA-P, October 27, 2021.

56.   Ellie Deer* and Mike Mooring. “Single season occupancy analysis incorporating covariates of Baird’s tapir”, presented at the 45th Annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, April 9, 2022.