Andrew Elgin

MSc. Department of Biology

Birthplace: Virginia, USA

BSc: The College of William & Mary

Project: Retaining Prairie Ponds to Offset Agricultural Impact on Tree Swallows: Assessment of
             Foraging Habitat, Prey Quality, and Pesticide Exposure

I am assessing the potential for prairie wetland ponds (“prairie potholes”) to offset agricultural impact on prey availability for aerial insectivorous birds. Using Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) as a model organism, I am investigating foraging habitat use, nutritional quality of aquatic and terrestrial insect prey, and potential relationships to agricultural pesticide exposure.