The Sperry Lab

The Sperry lab studies community-level ecological interactions and animal behavior. Our research explores multiple facets of community ecology including competition, mutualistic networks, and the ecological roles of invasive species. We also investigate animal behavior, communication, and movement across a wide range of taxanomic clades.

Dr. Sperry is an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois in the Natural Resources and Environmental Science department. She is also a wildlife biologist for the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC-CERL) located in Champaign, IL.

If you are interested in joining the Sperry lab
as an undergraduate or graduate student
please email
Jinelle Sperry at: Jinelle.Sperry@usace.army.mil

We are located in S-506 Turner Hall on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.

Vizentin-Bugoni, J., C.E. Tarwater, J.T. Foster, D.R. Drake, J.M. Gleditsch, A.M. Hruska, J.P. Kelley, and J.H. Sperry (2019) Structure, spatial dynamics, and stability of novel seed dispersal mutualistic networks in Hawaiʻi. Science 364(6435): 78-82. DOI: 10.1126/science.aau8751

Gleditsch, JM and Sperry, JH (2019) Rapid morphological change of non-native frugivores on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu. Evolution, 73: 1456-1465. doi:10.1111/evo.13744

Tetzlaff, S.J., J.H. Sperry, and B.A. DeGregorio. 2019. Effects of antipredator training, environmental enrichment, and soft release on wildlife translocations: a review and meta-analysis. Biological Conservation 236: 324–331.

MacDonald, S.E., Ward, M.P. and Sperry, J.H., 2019. Manipulating social information to promote frugivory by birds on a Hawaiian Island. Ecological Applications, p.e01963. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1963

Buxton, V.L., W.M. Schelsky, T.J. Boves, S. Summers, P.J. Weatherhead, and J.H. Sperry. 2018. Effects of drought on brood parasite body condition, follicle development, and parasitism: implications for host-parasite dynamics. Auk, 135: 908-918. https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-18-6.1

DeGregorio, B.A., S.J. Chiavacci, T.J. Benson, J.H. Sperry, and P.J. Weatherhead. 2016. Nest predators of North American birds: continental patterns and implications. Bioscience 66: 655-665.PDF

Buxton, V.L., M.P. Ward, and J.H. Sperry. 2015. Use of chorus sounds for location of breeding habitat in 2 species of anuran amphibian. Behavioral Ecology 26: 1011-1018. PDF

DeGregorio, B.A., J.D. Westervelt, P.J. Weatherhead, and J.H. Sperry. 2015. Indirect effect of climate change: shifts in ratsnake behavior alter timing and intensity of nest predation. Ecological Modelling 312: 239-246. PDF

Dittmar, E.M., D.A. Cimprich, J.H. Sperry, and P.J. Weatherhead. 2014. Habitat selection by juvenile black-capped vireos following independence from parental care. Journal of Wildlife Management 78: 1005-1011. PDF

DeGregorio, B.A., S.J. Chiavacci, P.J. Weatherhead, J.D. Willson, T.J. Benson, and J.H. Sperry. 2014. Snake predation of North American bird nests: culprits, patterns, and future directions. Journal of Avian Biology 45: 325-333. PDF