Teaching Interests

BSC 103 Biology & Society
BSC 110 Principles of Biology
BSC 418-L/518-L Avian Biology
BSC 692 Biology of Stress
 

Research Interests

My research program has two main focuses:

• Role of migratory birds in the dispersal and initiation of West Nile Virus (WNV).
  
  My interest in migratory birds and WNV is two-fold. First, in collaboration with Nick Komar, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we are investigating whether birds will migrate while infectious (i.e. capable of infecting a biting mosquito) with WNV. Although migrating birds are considered the primary dispersal agent of WNV, there is no direct evidence of a bird actively migrating while infectious with WNV. We are able to test this experimentally because migratory disposition, i.e. urge to migrate is genetically programmed. This has been termed Zugunruhe, where birds in migratory disposition display increased locomotor activity or restlessness under captive conditions. This restlessness in caged migrants corresponds to the daily and annual pattern of migratory activity in free-ranging birds. We are examining the migratory activity of several species of landbird migrants inoculated with WNV. The work is conducted in the USM Animal Research Facility.
  
  Second, in collaboration with Mary Garvin, Oberlin College, and Frank Moore, USM, we are investigating the role of passerines in the initiation of the annual cycle of two arboviruses of health concern, both public and wildlife, in North America: eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV, Togaviridae, Alphavirus) and West Nile virus (WNV, Flaviviridae, Flavivirus). Specifically, we will test the hypothesis reinitiation of WNV and EEEV cycles occurs each spring due to recrudescence of latent virus in birds from a cryptic to a viremic phase. Specifically, we predict that birds previously infected with virus, but lacking detectable infections, will become viremic when immunosuppressed from 1) the stress of spring migration between tropical wintering grounds and temperate breeding grounds and/or 2) hormonal changes associated with breeding.
  
   
• Health and Immunocompetence of Migrating Landbirds
  
  I examine the relationship between immune function and the stopover biology of intercontinental [Nearctic-Neotropical] landbird migrants. I investigate the trade-offs between the energetic demands of migration and immune function by addressing several central questions: (1) What is the relationship between immunocompetence and energetic condition? (2) Do migrants suppress immune function during migration? (3) Do migrants reallocate resources to their immune system during stopover, following periods of immunosuppression?
  
  The various measures I used to assess a bird’s health and immune function, include absolute and differential leukocyte (WBC) counts (see WBC photos below), hematocrit, sedimentation rate, immunoglobulin gamma levels, and cell-mediated immune response (via intradermal injection of phytohemagglutinin).

1 heterophil (ctr) and 1 thrombocyte	2 lymphocytes and 2 thrombocytes	1 monocyte and 1 thrombocyte

Funded Research:

Project title: CRUI: Effects of Migratory Stress and Breeding Hormones on the Spring Recrudescence of Latent West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Infections in the Gray Catbird
Supported by: National Science Foundation
Co-PIs: Mary Garvin (Oberlin College) and Frank Moore (University of Southern Mississippi)

Project title: Migratory Birds as Dispersal Agents of West Nile Virus
Supported by: Centers for Disease Control, MS Public Health Department
Co-PIs: Nicholas Komar (Centers for Disease Control) and Frank Moore (University of Southern Mississippi)

Project title: West Nile Virus Reservoir Competency of Northern Cardinals and Northern Mockingbirds
Supported by: Centers for Disease Control, MS Public Health Department
Co-PI: Nicholas Komar (Centers for Disease Control)

Current Graduate Students

Representative Publications

Owen, J., F. Moore, N. Panella, E. Edwards, R. Bru, M. Hughes, N. Komar. 2006. Migrating birds as dispersal vehicles of West Nile virus, Ecohealth 3(2): 79-85.

Owen, J.C. and F.R. Moore. 2006. Seasonal differences in immunological condition of three species of thrushes. Condor 108: 389-398.

Owen, J. C., M. K. Sogge, and M. D. Kern. 2005. Habitat and sex differences in physiological condition of breeding Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax trailli extimus). The Auk. 122:1261-1270.

Komar, N., N. A. Panella, S. A. Langevin, A. C. Brault, M. Amador, E. Edwards, and J. C. Owen. 2005. Avian hosts for West Nile virus in St. Tammany Parish, Lousiana, 2002. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 73:1031-1037.

Sogge, M.K., J.C. Owen, E.H. Paxton, S.M. Landgridge, T.J. Koronkiewicz. 2001. A targeted mist net capture technique for the willow flycatcher. Western Birds. 32:167-172