Jake Kerby

Jake Kerby

M.S., Biology, California State University, Northridge. Thesis: Factors limiting dispersal of an alien crayfish. May 2003.
B.S., Psychobiology, Pepperdine University. April 1996.

Red Swamp Crayfish My dissertation research focuses on understanding the influences pesticides have on ecologically important behaviors, particularly in amphibians. I study the relative impacts of low pesticide concentrations on predators and prey and possible influences on declining amphibian populations throughout California. I have found significant behavioral alterations in predator-prey interactions between two species of frogs (Hyla regilla and Rana boylii) with crayfish and fish predators. I have recently finished an experiment also examining the effects of pesticide on algal consumption.

I am also involved in several different projects involving research on invasive crayfish. Our Sea grant project investigates the factors influencing the spread and impact of two species of non-native crayfish (Procambarus clarkii and Pascifasticus leniusculus). In conjunction with Lee Kats and Pepperdine University, I am also currently involved in a restoration project to attempt removal of crayfish from a southern California coastal stream.

I received the Environmental Protection Agency STAR fellowship. Click here to read my proposal.

jlkerby@ucdavis.edu

Publications
Kerby, J. L., and L. B. Kats. 1998. Modified interactions between salamander life stages caused by wildfire-induced sedimentation. Ecology. 79(2): 740-745.
Sih, A., A. M. Bell, and J. L. Kerby. 2004. Two stressors are far deadlier than one. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 19(6):274-276.
Sih, A., J. Kerby, A. Bell and R. Relyea. Response to Schmidt. Pesticides, mortality and population growth rate. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 19(9): 460-461.
Luttbeg, B., and J. Kerby. Are scared prey as good as dead? Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 20(8): 416-418.
Kerby, J., S. Riley, P. Wilson, L. B. Kats. Barriers and flow as limiting factors in the spread of an invasive crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in southern California streams. Biological Conservation. 126: 402-409.
Riley, S., G. T. Busteed, L. B. Kats, T. L. Vandergon, L. Lee, R. Dagit, J. L. Kerby, R. N. Fisher, and R. M. Sauvajot. Effects of urbanization on the distribution and abundance of amphibians and invasive species in southern California streams. Conservation Biology. In press.
Kerby, J. Behavioral effects of sub-lethal pesticide concentrations on two amphibian species. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. In review.
Recent Abstracts
Pesticide-induced behavioral shifts differentially alter tadpole survivorship in the presence of a crayfish predator. August 2005, Ecological Society of America, Montreal Canada.	Read
Behavioral shifts in amphibian larvae due to pesticide exposure. November 2004, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Portland OR.	Read
Differences in behavioral responses to sub-lethal pesticide concentrations in amphibians and a potential predator. August 2004, Ecological Society of America, Portland OR.	Read
Behavioral shifts in predators and prey due to sub-lethal pesticide exposure. October 2004, Environmental Protection Agency STAR fellow conference, Washington DC. ----------------------------------------------------Poster
Factors limiting spread of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, in Santa Monica Mountain streams. August 2003, Ecological Society of America, Savannah GA.	Read
Diazinon altered predator-prey interactions between a fish and two amphibians. November 2003, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Austin TX.	Read