University of California - Riverside
I am broadly interested in the evolution of life histories and how flexibility in growth and reproductive strategies can permit organisms to respond in an adaptive manner to changes in their environment. Phenotypic responses to the environment are often a function of current conditions but may also be influenced, to varying degrees, by conditions encountered during earlier stages of life. Resource conditions during critical stages of early growth and development can have long-term consequences for the phenotype, yet our understanding of how these formative experiences influence suites of life history traits and ultimately fitness is still in a nascent stage. My thesis focuses on the long-term impacts of early resource conditions on the life history trajectory and fitness. Specifically, I am investigating whether juvenile and adult resource conditions have additive or interactive effects on fitness, the relative impact of juvenile and adult resource conditions on different reproductive traits, and whether juvenile growth responses to resource heterogeneity have long-term negative consequences for reproduction.
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Education
2005 - present Ph.D. Student, Program in Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside
2001 B.A. in Environmental Studies, Prescott College, Prescott, Arizona, 2001
Emphasis: Ecology and Natural History
Professional Experience
FIELD TECHNICIAN May-July 2005
Lake Tahoe, CA
University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Supervisor: Heather Mathewson
FIELD TECHNICIAN March-May 2005
Santa Cruz Island, CA
Colorado State University
Supervisor: Cameron Ghalambor
FIELD TECHNICIAN August-November 2003-2004
Koeberg Nature Preserve, Cape Town, South Africa
Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Missoula, MT
Supervisor: Thomas Martin
RESEARCH INTERN February-August 2004
Soberania National Park, Panama
University of Illinois - Champaign
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Supervisor: Jeffrey Brawn
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE August 2001-August 2003
Yacambu National Park, Estado Lara, Venezuela (March-July)
Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Missoula, MT
Supervisor: Thomas Martin
RESEARCH INTERN May-July 1999- 2001
Coconino National Forest, AZ
Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Missoula, MT
Supervisor: Thomas Martin
Honors and Fellowships
2009-2010 University of California- Riverside Chancellor's Fellowship
2008 UCR Newell Award
2006-2009 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2005-2006 Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship
2001 National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship
Publications
Manuscripts published in peer-reviewed journals:
Martin, T.E., S. K. Auer, R. D. Bassar, A. Niklison, and P. Lloyd. 2007. Geographic variation in avian incubation periods and parental influences on embryonic temperature. Evolution 61: 2558-2569.
Auer, S.K., R.D. Bassar, T.E. Martin, J.J. Fontaine. 2007. Breeding biology of passerines in a subtropical montane forest in northwestern Argentina. The Condor 109: 321-333.
Auer, S. K., R. D. Bassar and T. E. Martin. 2007. Biparental incubation in the Chestnut-vented Titbabbler: mates devote equal time, but males keep eggs warmer. Journal of Avian Biology 38: 278-283.
Auer, S. K., D. M. Logue, R. D. Bassar, D. E. Gammon. 2007. Breeding biology of the Black-bellied Wren in central Panama. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119: 71-76.
Martin, T. E., R. D. Bassar, S. K. Auer, J. J. Fontaine, P. Lloyd, H. A. Mathewson, A. M. Niklison, and A. Chalfoun. 2006. Life-history and ecological correlates of geographic variation in egg and clutch mass among passerine species. Evolution 60:390-398.
Kofoed, E. and S. K. Auer. 2004. First description of the nest, eggs, young and breeding behavior of the Great Antpitta. Wilson Bulletin 116:105-108.
Manuscripts in review or preparation:
Auer, S. K. and D.N. Reznick. In prep. Impact of resource availability on reproductive effort in Trinidadian guppies.
Bassar, R. D., S. K. Auer, A. Mamaril, and D. N. Reznick. In prep. Life historical correlates of placental reproduction in the fish familiy Poecilidae.
Jorgensen, C., S.K. Auer and D. N. Reznick. In prep. Effects of mortality and growth on the evolution of offspring size.
Invited Reviewer
Journal of Avian Biology (1)
Journal of Field Ornithology (2)
Journal of Ornithology (3)
Wilson Journal of Ornithology (1)
male and female Trinidadian guppies
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Transkei region, South Africa
Stampede Meadows, Lake Tahoe area, California
Nahuel Huapi pass, Bariloche, Argentina
Joshua Tree Park, California
Santa Cruz Island, California
Mousebird nestlings, South Africa
