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About the Author:
My name is Elizabeth Hobson (formerly
Elizabeth Moseman). I am studying the social structure of Monk
Parakeets for my dissertation work at New Mexico State University
under the guidance of Dr. Tim Wright. I have been studying
this species in both their native and exotic ranges since 2006. I
have conducted fieldwork in coastal Connecticut and Austin, Texas in
the exotic range, and have worked with native populations in Entre
Rios, Argentina. I have 8 years of experience working with avian
research projects, 4 of which I have spent working with parrots in
Peru, Bonaire, Costa Rica, Argentina, and the U.S.
The bulk of my dissertation focuses on the processes through
which social structure forms and the benefits that individuals
receive from their placement within the resulting social
structure. I am comparing two approaches for describing social
structure: social network theory and dominance hierarchies. I
conducted research on existing social structure on wild parakeets in
Argentina, and am currently studying the formation of social
structure in a group of captive parakeets held under semi-natural
conditions in a large aviary. This approach will give insight
into how this species forms social bonds following a small-scale
introduction into a new area, and how these bonds benefit
individuals in terms of access to food resources. Monks have
been very successful in establishing exotic populations, and a high
degree of social flexibility or a propensity to quickly establish or
reestablish social bonds may contribute to their success.
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