DNA METABARCODINGI use genetic analysis of fecal DNA to examine how coyote diet is impacted by human presence and footprint. I investigate how the diet composition of individual coyotes is influenced by the territory they reside in, demonstrating that within-city variation in the built environment shapes the diet of coyotes.
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stable isotopesI use whiskers from coyotes that die in the city, mostly roadkill, to quantify much human food and protein individuals assimilate. I use stable isotope analysis to investigate the extent of individual dietary specialization in San Francisco coyotes versus those in less urbanized areas in Marin County.
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endocrinologyI measure cortisol and thyroid hormones in coyote fecal samples to explore how endocrine function is impacted by dietary variation and environmental contamination, such as lead and mercury pollution.
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