Department of Environmental Science and Biology
- Faculty
Dr. Christopher Norment
Professor
PhD, University of Kansas
SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Telephone (585) 395-5748, Fax (585) 395-5969
E-mail cnorment@brockport.edu
119 Lennon Hall
News Alert-- Norment Nominated for Writing Award !
Brockport, NY – Return to Warden's Grove: Science, Desire and the Lives of Sparrows (Sightline Books), by Christopher Norment, PhD, professor of environmental science and biology at The College at Brockport, State University of New York, has been nominated for the John Burroughs Medal. The award, named for nature writer John Burroughs (1837-1921), has been presented annually since 1926 by the John Burroughs Association to the author of a book that the association has judged to be distinguished in the field of natural history.
The John Burroughs Association is dedicated to promoting the spirit and teaching of John Burroughs, the famed Hudson River naturalist and essayist who perfected and popularized both the form and the content of the natural history essay. The award winner will be announced in early March with a presentation made at the John Burroughs Annual Literary Awards Luncheon at the American Museum of Natural History in April.
Norment’s book of creative nonfiction evolved from his doctoral field research studying the ecology of the Harris’s sparrow in Canada’s Northwest Territories (1989-91). Publisher’s Weekly wrote, “In this affecting book, he (Norment) meditates on the desire for wilderness and solitude that drew him to such a remote place, and he tells what it's like to be alone for hours in a silent, forbidding environment observing an animal in its natural habitat.”
Norment earned his PhD in systematics and ecology from the University of Kansas. He has been a member of the College at Brockport faculty since 1993, where he teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of vertebrate ecology, avian breeding biology, grassland ecology, and the ecology of arctic and alpine environments.
He has published extensively on these subjects in academic literature. He also is the author of the book, In the North of Our Lives: A Year in the Wilderness of the Northwest Territories (Down East Books, 1989).
Curriculum Vitae
Undergraduate Courses:
Wildlife Ecology (ENV 406), Animal Behavior (ENV 427), Ornithology (ENV 430), Conservation Biology (ENV 439), Herpetology (ENV 440), Mammalogy (ENV 459), Field Biology (ENV 477).
Graduate Courses:
Wildlife Ecology (BIO 506), Animal Behavior (BIO 527), Ornithology (BIO 530), Conservation Biology (BIO 539), Herpetology (BIO 540), Mammalogy (BIO 559), Field Biology (BIO 577).
Research:
VERTEBRATE ECOLOGY/CONSERVATION BIOLOGY: ecology of terrestrial vertebrates, particularly birds and mammals; avian breeding biology, and community structure and function; grassland ecology; ecology of arctic and alpine environments.
Graduate students working with Dr. Norment
in the Department of Environmental Science and Biology (MS Biological Sciences)
Recent Publications:
Smith*, S.B. and C.J. Norment. 2005. Nocturnal activity and energetic conditions of Spring landbirds migrants at Braddock Bay, Lake Ontario. Journal of Field Ornithology. 76. 304-311.
Norment, C.J., and K. Green. 2004. Breeding ecology of Richard's Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) in the Snowy Mountains, Australia. Emu: Austral Ornithology 102: 327-336.
Balent*, K., and C. Norment. 2003. Demographic characteristics of a Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) population in a highly fragmented habitat in western New York. Journal of Field Ornithology 74:341-348.
Norment, C.J. 2003. Patterns of nestling feeding in Harris's Sparrows and White-crowned Sparrows in the Northwest territories, Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 117: 203-208.
Norment, C.J. 2002. On grassland bird conservation in the Northeast. Auk 119: 271-279.
Norment, C. J. 2002. (Book Review). Blackhearts: Ecology in Outback Australia. Auk 119:577-580.
Norment, C. J. 2000. Arctic Profile: Francis Harper (1886-1972). Arctic 53: 72-75.
Ardizzone*, C. A. and C. J. Norment. 1999. Experimental analysis of nest predation: effects of habitat and nest distribution. Studies in Avian Biology 19: 122-127.
Norment, C. J., C. A. Ardizzone* and K. Hartman*. 1999. Habitat relations and breeding biology of grassland birds in western New York: management implications. Studies in Avian Biology 19: 112-121.
Norment, C. J., A. Hall, and P. Hendricks. 1999. Important bird and mammal records in the Thelon River Valley, Northwest Territories: range expansions and possible explanations. Canadian Field-Naturalist 113: 1-11.
Roberts*, C. R. and C. J. Norment. 1999. Effects of plot size and habitat characteristics on breeding success of Scarlet Tanagers. Auk 116: 73-82.
Norment, C. J. 1999. "Effects of Habitat Manipulations on Grassland Bird Populations." Final report to United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, Hadley, MA. 48 pp.
Norment, C. J. 1999. "Effects of Grassland Bird Management on Nongame Bird Community Structure and Productivity." Final report to United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, Hadley, MA.152 pp.
Norment, C. J. 1999. (Book Review) "Habitat Characteristics of Some Passerine Birds in Western North American Taiga," by Brina Kessel. Arctic 52: 311-312.
Norment, C. J., P. Hendricks, and R. Santonocito*. 1998. "Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)." In: The Birds of North America, No. 352 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences.
Jones, G.* and C. J. Norment. 1998. "Absence of Breeding Readiness in Neotropical and Long-distance Migrant Landbirds during Spring Stopover." Condor 100:373-375.
* Denotes student author
Recent Grants:
Norment, C.J. 2005. Shrubland bird habitat relations and management. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. $13,651.
Norment, C. J. 2005. A multi-scale analysis of grassland bird habitat relations in the St. Lawrence River Valley. New York State Biodiversity Research Institute. $19,986.
Norment, C.J. 2005. Influence of distance to habitat edge on depredation rates of simulated grassland bird nests. Challenge Cost Share Grant, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, region 5. $5,800.
Norment, C. J. 2003. A multi-scale analysis of grassland bird habitat relations in the St. Lawrence River Valley, with a focus on the Henslow's Sparrow. New York State Biodiversity Research Institute. $15,819.
Norment, C. J. 2003. (1) A comparison of the Vickery Reproductive Index, and nest searching and monitoring, as methods for estimating the productivity of grassland birds in the Northeast. (2) Grassland breeding bird use of managed grasslands on National Wildlife refuges in region 5. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region. $15,000.
Norment, C.J. 2002. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A comparison of nest monitoring and a reproductive index as methods for estimating the productivity of grassland birds. $12,000.
Norment, C.J. 2002. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grassland bird use of managed grasslands on National Wildlife Refuges in Region 5. $6,500.
Norment, C. J. 2001. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Created wetlands as wildlife habitat: a comparison of bird and amphibian populations in created and natural wetlands in western New York. $4,983.
Norment, C. J. 2001. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grassland breeding bird use of managed grasslands on National Wildlife Refuges. $4,500.
Norment, C. J. 2000. Bergen Swamp Preservation Society. Small mammal survey of Bergen Swamp. $1,600.
Norment, C. J. 1999. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Spatial structure of Grasshopper Sparrow populations at Mendon Ponds. $3,600.
"I respect fatih, but doubt is what gets you an education" --- Wilson Mizener
"We're all Bozos on this bus" -- Firesign Theatre
Graduate Students:
Sarah Lazazzero (MS in progress) slaz0727@brockport.edu
I am working on a landscape-level analysis of grassland birds in the St. Lawrence Plain, Jefferson County, NY, a study funded by the NYS Biodiversity Research Institute. A landscape-level analysis incorporates the use of GIS software and aerial photos to assess landscape features that influence the presence/absence of grassland bird species. The landscape-level and local habitat features are used in conjunction with bird survey data to create bird habitat relationship models. These models will be used to help guide grassland management decisions.
Tim Crockett (MS in progress) tcro0309@brockport.edu
Currently, I am finishing the second year of my thesis research examining the landscape ecology and habitat requirements of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in northern New York. This study involved live trapping and radio telemetry at several sites to determine what habitat types and characteristics are important to Blanding's turtle, a threatened species in New York. Additionally, I am comparing the home ranges and spatial ecology of Blanding's turtles in this study to other studies across its range, and participating in an ongoing project to determine this turtle's geographic range within New York State. This project will provide information that will aid in the conservation of this species, which is at the eastern edge of its contiguous range in northern New York. This study is funded by the NYS Biodiversity Research Institute.
Saskia Windig (MS in progress) saskiaje@lycos.com
My thesis deals with the influence of nest concealment and distance to habitat edge on depredation rates of simulated grassland bird nests at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR). This research was funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The main objective of this study is to experimentally analyze the relationship between nest placement (concealment and distance to the nearest habitat discontinuity) and nest success in grassland habitats at INWR. The two-year study uses simulated grassland bird nests baited with eggs similar in size to those of common grassland breeding birds at INWR to test two null hypotheses:
1: Distance from the nearest forest edge has no effect on depredation rates of simulated grassland bird nests.
2. Concealment has no effect on depredation rates of simulated grassland bird nests.
Brendan McCabe (MS in progress) mccabebj@hotmail.com
My research focuses on lipid stores in different plumage morphs and sexes of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) during migration. White-throated Sparrows exhibit two distinct plumage morphs that are genetically determined and exhibit different social behaviors, the white-striped and tan-striped versions. The two morphs pair disassociatively and produce equal proportions of white-striped and tan-striped offspring of both sexes. However, unequal proportions of the plumage morphs of each sex return to the breeding grounds after spring migration. The apparent differential survival between plumage morphs and sexes may be the result of different behaviors associated with migration.
Lipid stores are an essential component for a successful migration and may vary between the plumage morphs and sexes. I measured lipid stores using the deuterium dilution technique. This method can be used to estimate lipid stores. Additionally, since most White-throated Sparrows cannot be sexed upon visual inspection, I used a molecular sexing technique to distinguish the sexes.
Dave Porter (MS in progress) porterd@victorschools.org
Comparison of created and natural wetlands as wildlife habitats. Currently, Dave teaches science at Victor High School, NY
Mike Morgan (MS in Progress) mmorgan@audubon.org
My thesis research involved assessing a reproductive index for grassland breeding birds. In theory, by observing behaviors associated with the reproductive cycle (territoriality, nest building, and feeding young), the index should allow the observer to passively quantify productivity without disturbing nests to track egg laying and hatching. However, preliminary results seem to indicate that this index is not sufficiently accurate. My research was funded by the US Fish and WIldlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. Because of my experience with grassland birds (from my thesis research and other grassland projects I was involved with while working for the USFWS), I was hired by Audubon New York as a Wildlife Ecologist for their new grassland program. Audubon has developed partnerships with the conservation organizations and agencies concerned about declining grassland birds in the Northeast (which are declining faster than any other bird habitat assemblages in the region). Currently, we are developing programs to monitor grassland birds more closely, and are working to focus grassland conservation projects where they are most needed.
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