Julian Grudens
Graduate Student
Education
University of Florida, B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 2017
Ball State University, M.S. Biology, 2024
Research
I am a second year M.S. student in the lab of Dr. Kamal Islam. Our lab studies the Indiana state-endangered Cerulean Warbler through the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment. This includes a long-term population and nest monitoring program to study the effects of silvicultural treatments on breeding success. Previous graduate students have published studies on habitat selection, migratory connectivity and long-distance dispersal, fledgling survival, and lepidopteran prey abundance. Several publications on natural history topics including female song and hybridization are also products of the lab.
My research is focused on describing and understanding the effects of avian malaria in the population. I am utilizing molecular techniques of PCR and Sanger sequencing to identify and quantify infections. Additionally, I am investigating parasite mediated sexual selection of song.
Presentations
Grudens, J. B. and K. Islam. “Avian Blood Parasite Infections in a Southern Indiana Population of Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)”. Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, poster, 14 February 2023.
Grudens, J. B. and K. Islam. “Blood Parasite Infections in a Population of Cerulean Warblers and a Comparison of Methodologies for Detection”. Ball State University Student Symposium, poster, 11 April 2023.