1. Rebecca Wang and Victoria Sunkel
The Effects of microhabitat and predator density on nesting success in Northern
Mockingbirds.
A study focused on obtaining more information on how microhabitats and predator densities at
Northern Mockingbird nesting sites impact reproductive success.
Background:
The subject of our proposed study is the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos).
In this study, we will analyze the nesting habitats and success of the Northern Mockingbird
found commonly throughout the city. Being the only species of mockingbird commonly found in
North America, it is culturally treasured and new information about the species ecology in urban
areas is valuable for it’s conservation
Free-ranging domestic cats are estimated to kill 1.3-4.0 billion birds annually (Loss et al.
2013). Besides cats, Northern mockingbird nests may face predation threat from several species
of other predators including various species of owls and hawks as well. The frequency of
predation by each animal remains unknown, as does the respective methods of predation by each
species. Victoria’s focus will be on determining the density of different nest predators in
different neighborhoods (Bywater, Lakeview, and Uptown), and the frequency of predation on
mockingbird nests.
As well as the presence of predators, urbanization disrupts and fragments habitats, which
can negatively impact breeding success in many species (Chamberlain et al. 2009). However,
urban adaptive birds like the Northern mockingbird can thrive in urban settings, and we predict
this is due to their use of high quality microhabitats. Patches of better quality habitat can exist
within densely urbanized areas and birds can utilize these areas for breeding and foraging
(Melles et al. 2003) Their use of good microhabitat can also affect their vulnerability to urban
predators; as such we need to examine these factors together to understand their impact on
breeding success. Rebecca’s focus will be on assessing the importance of microhabitats and how
they interact with predator density to affect nesting success.
Topic 1: (Victoria)
Objective 1: Determine the density of different predators across the city.
Methods: In order to determine which of the above stated nest predators (Cats, Owls,
Hawks, Snakes and Squirrels) is the most abundant in each neighborhood studied, we
will rely on a visual census. Transect surveys though out the neighborhoods will be
conducted several times with the numbers of each predator seen and their distance from
the transect recorded. As predators further from the line will have lower probability of
detection, this will be accounted for in the estimate when determining the common
predator in each neighborhood.
Objective 2: Determine which predator most commonly attacks mockingbird nests.
Methods: In order to accomplish this objective, we will set camouflaged cameras, close
enough to view activity of each nest. The camouflage will prevent the birds from reacting
to the novel presence of the camera. When first found, the location and structure of the
nest will be measured. Twice a week, the nests will be checked on to see their status. If a

2. nest is found to be empty, the camera will be removed and checked to find out the final
outcome of the nest. If the nest was predated, the type of predator and how they
approached will be recorded. We will also be able to determine if the nest failure was a
result of weather or human interference. The total number of attacks and strategy of
predation by each predator will be recorded. Any nest that has sustained the duration of
the study will be quantified and compared between areas of different predator density.
These observations will be used to find a common factor in the placement or building of
nests that increases their likelihood of survival.
Topic 2: (Rebecca)
Objective 1: How does abundance of domestic predators (cats) vary among three distinct New
Orleans neighborhoods (Uptown, Lakeview, and Bywater)?
Predictions: I predict a higher presence and abundance of domestic predators (cats) in
the Uptown area of New Orleans because houses are raised, providing a place to live, and
because my own anecdotal observations suggest that more home owners have cats as
pets.
Methods:
• To better understand the urban environment of the Northern Mockingbirds and
their vulnerability to domestic predators, transect surveys in conjunction with
Victoria’s methods will be conducted throughout the 3 neighborhoods (Uptown,
Lakeview, and Bywater) included in this study. These transect samples would
involve walking a set route at a set pace and counting all the cats seen. Using this
data, we can then estimate the population.
• Each transect will be walked at a slow, steady place (1.5-3 mph) and may last
between 60-120 minutes depending on the length of the transect and number of
cats observed. All transects are to be completed in the morning times between
sunrise and 11AM. At the start of each transect, temperature and weather
conditions will be recorded. On rainy days, transects surveys will not be
conducted.
• If a cat is spotted, we will record the time and location, and place a pin on the
Easy GPS application in which the lateral and longitudinal coordinates will be
recorded.
• Because of the limitations with conducting transect surveys during the daytime
due to the fact that cats are nocturnal, video footage of predator activity near
nesting sites will be captured at or nearby the nest sites.
Objective 2: Microhabitats of nesting sites: What are the environmental conditions of
Northern mockingbirds in areas of high and low lead concentrations? What are environmental
factors besides lead contamination present in sampling sites that may also affect Northern
mockingbird physiology or behavioral aggression?
Predictions: I predict a more natural habitat in Lakeview where the housing density is
lower and there is more green space relative to areas like the Bywater and Uptown. I
predict that more natural habitat will result in greater nesting success in Northern
Mockingbirds.
Methods:

3. • soil quality tests, proximity to houses measured by meter tape.
• Randomly select n= 30 nesting sites from each neighborhood from which to
collect data on microhabitat and create a 15 m radial plot from a center point.
• Record percent foliage cover at ground level, eye-level (~2 m), and 15 m above
the ground.
• Number of trees, shrubs, and telephone poles within the 15 m radial plot as well
as the number of cars and people that passed in a 5-minute period recorded in
Excel File to estimate disturbance.
• In residential areas record the number of stories, width of lot, and the number of
trees and shrubs on the property.
Objective 3: What is the relative impact of predator presence/abundance and microhabitat
on mockingbird nesting success?
Methods:
• My coworkers and I will find at least 15 active nests in each of the 3 neighborhoods.
We will monitor the nests via visits every 3-4 days.
• At a subset of these nests, we will set up camera traps. This will allow us to quantify
parental provisioning of young and, more important, the source of nest failure (ie,
we will be able to record if and when the nest is predated by a potential predator
such as a cat).
• 9 camera traps will allow me to rotate 3 camera traps in each neighborhood, so that
over the course of the breeding season I can get data on 15 nests per neighborhood.
• Data collected from the aforementioned methods can be coupled with data on
mockingbird densities based on nesting sites, nest size, and number of adult or
juvenile birds in each neighborhood in order to understand if there is a correlation
between mockingbird densities and presence/abundance of domestic predators.
• Risk of nest predation can be assessed through mounted motion sense cameras
mounted at eye level or 1m above nests. Other interested project participants and I
will review the footage in order to determine the extent of nest predation by
domestic cats.
Newcomb Mission (Rebecca)
I am personally and deeply committed to Newcomb mission of empowering women by
integrating teaching, research, and community engagement at Tulane University. This year, I
have participated in Tulane’s Girls in STEM event, which involves professors, graduate students,
and undergraduate students from a range of STEM fields who all come together to host a fun day
of science workshops designed to inspire middle school girls from around the New Orleans area
to pursue a career in the male –dominated STEM fields. This past semester, I helped to
demonstrate water quality testing through my service-learning course at a welcome table at the
event. My partners and I showed the girls how to perform a dissolved oxygen test, clarity test,
pH test, and temperature readings. My female professors that I’ve had in the past or for whom I
volunteer in the lab are all deeply committed to Girls in STEM and all lead workshops on the day
of. This semester I’ll be heading another welcome table for etymology where the students will be

4. able to observe firsthand the biodiversity showcased in the insect collections of students from Dr.
Vanbael’s Insect Biology and Etymology classes.
Budget
Camera traps (10 units @ $130/unit) $1,300
Memory cards (10 units @ $12/unit) $120
Cable locks (10x @ $10/unit) $100
Battery charger (2x @ $20/unit) $ 40
Rechargeable batteries (2x 20 packs @ 32.99/unit) $65.98
Fuel to sites (50 trips @ $4 per trip) $200
TOTAL: $1825.98
References:
Chamberlain, D. E., Cannon, A. R., Toms, M. P., Leech, D. I., Hatchwell, B. J., & Gaston, K. J.
(2009). Avian productivity in urban landscapes: a review and meta‐analysis. Ibis, 151(1),
1-18.
Melles, S. , Glenn, S. & Martin, K. (2003) Urban bird diversity and landscape complexity:
species-environment associations along a multiscale habitat gradient. Conservation
Ecology, 7, 5.
Loss, S. R., Will, T., & Marra, P. P. (2013). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife
of the United States. Nature communications, 4, 1396.

5. Fall Session: Funds available for spring or summer 2016. Deadline to submit: October 30, 2015.
Spring Session: Funds available for summer or fall 2016. Deadline to submit: March 4, 2016.
Name Email
Campus (local) address Phone
Permanent mailing address
Current class freshman sophomore junior senior 4+1
(You must be enrolled full-time in Newcomb-Tulane College during the semester you are funded)
Major(s) Minor
Faculty Sponsor Department
Project title and description of 50 words or less summary
Total requested from Newcomb Grants Program $ (should match amount from your proposed budget)
Will you be traveling internationally? To where?
Please read the Guidelines for Student Grant Proposals on our website and become familiar with IRB and CITI course
requirements if applicable before submitting your proposal packet.
The proposal packet should include:
1.! This form
2.! Faculty sponsor approval form
3.! A detailed description of the project, including a timeline and discussion of the significance of the project to the
Newcomb College Institute’s mission. (2-3 pages)
4.! Budget worksheet (from the NCI website)
5.! One-page resumé.
Application package should be emailed, preferably as one pdf document, to lwolford@tulane.edu.
Victoria Sunkel vsunkel@tulane.edu
31 Macalister 847 922 7865
1121 Vernon Drive
Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Spanish and Psychology
Jordan Karubian Ebio
Mockingbird nesting and Predation Habits
1550
no

6. Faculty sponsor must be a Newcomb Fellow
Deadline for student to submit application packet is October 30, 2015 for Fall cycle and March 4, 2016 for Spring cycle.
Student Department
Faculty sponsor Department
Sponsor’s email Phone
Title of project
Describe the extent and nature of the student’s involvement in her project
What is the probability of completion/success?
If the project is part of your research, describe the ways in which her request is related to the larger project and its funding.
NOTE: You must be a Newcomb Fellow to be a faculty sponsor and should be sufficiently familiar with the student and her
work to agree that this project is viable and has a good chance of completion. The faculty sponsor agrees to assist the student
with the IRB procedure and with the CITI course requirements of Tulane University if applicable to this project.
Faculty sponsor signature Date
Faculty sponsor should return this form to the student.
504-865-5549
research project in coordination with a group of other students under my supervison.
jk@tulane.edu
Victoria will be conducting a semester long
Ecology & Evol. Bio
Jordan Karubain
Victoria Sunkel
EE Biology
The effect of predator density on Northern Mockingbird nesting success.
Dr. Ribeiro and I have conducted research on how lead and habit impact adult condition and breeding.
Very high - all methods have successfully been used in my lab
This research question adds to this previous work. We do not have any funding for it.
and mockingbirds are very common in New Orleans
3/1/16

7. Fall Session: Funds available for spring or summer 2016. Deadline to submit: October 30, 2015.
Spring Session: Funds available for summer or fall 2016. Deadline to submit: March 4, 2016.
Name Email
Campus (local) address Phone
Permanent mailing address
Current class freshman sophomore junior senior 4+1
(You must be enrolled full-time in Newcomb-Tulane College during the semester you are funded)
Major(s) Minor
Faculty Sponsor Department
Project title and description of 50 words or less summary
Total requested from Newcomb Grants Program $ (should match amount from your proposed budget)
Will you be traveling internationally? To where?
Please read the Guidelines for Student Grant Proposals on our website and become familiar with IRB and CITI course
requirements if applicable before submitting your proposal packet.
The proposal packet should include:
1.! This form
2.! Faculty sponsor approval form
3.! A detailed description of the project, including a timeline and discussion of the significance of the project to the
Newcomb College Institute’s mission. (2-3 pages)
4.! Budget worksheet (from the NCI website)
5.! One-page resumé.
Application package should be emailed, preferably as one pdf document, to lwolford@tulane.edu.

8. Faculty sponsor must be a Newcomb Fellow
Deadline for student to submit application packet is October 30, 2015 for Fall cycle and March 4, 2016 for Spring cycle.
Student Department
Faculty sponsor Department
Sponsor’s email Phone
Title of project
Describe the extent and nature of the student’s involvement in her project
What is the probability of completion/success?
If the project is part of your research, describe the ways in which her request is related to the larger project and its funding.
NOTE: You must be a Newcomb Fellow to be a faculty sponsor and should be sufficiently familiar with the student and her
work to agree that this project is viable and has a good chance of completion. The faculty sponsor agrees to assist the student
with the IRB procedure and with the CITI course requirements of Tulane University if applicable to this project.
Faculty sponsor signature Date
Faculty sponsor should return this form to the student.

9. YOUR%NAME
PROJECT/PROPOSAL%NAME
Estimated%
Costs
Destination)1
Projected%travel%dates FROM TO
Roundtrip%fare
Destination)2)(if)applicable)
Projected%travel%dates FROM TO
Roundtrip%fare
Taxis
Mileage 50 $4.00 200.00$,,,,,,,,,,
Rental%Car
200.00$,,,,,,,,,,
1
HOTELS Daily,Rate Total
Hotel,1 N/A
Hotel,2,(if,applicable) N/A
Hotel,3,(if,applicable) N/A
N/A
FOOD
N/A
N/A
CONFERENCE%REGISTRATION%FEE Fee
N/A
N/A
%Price%for%
item%
Quantity Total
$130 10 1,300.00$,,,,,,,
$12 10 120.00$,,,,,,,,,,
$10 10 100.00$,,,,,,,,,,
$20 2 40.00$,,,,,,,,,,,,
$32.99 2 65.98$,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
1,625.98$,,,,,,,
%#%of%hours% Rate Total
7.92 E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
7.92 E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
7.92 E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
E$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Newcomb%Grants%Program%Budget%Proposal%Worksheet
Please%read%and%complete%this%worksheet%carefully.,,Only,fillEin,the,boxes,that,correspond,with,the,projected,costs,of,the,project/proposal,described,in,your,application,,and,leave,
other,line,items,blank.,If,you,are,quoting,costs,from,a,website,,please,name,the,website,in,the,"Notes/Explanation",column.,
Rebecca,Wang
The,Effects,of,microhabitat,and,predator,density,on,nesting,success,in,Northern,Mockingbirds
TRANSPORTATION
Notes/Explanation%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Fill%in%cells%with%gray%type
Lakeview
Website,used,for,fare
Bywater,
website,used,for,fare
#,miles*.565=estimated,cost
EE,Bio,Truck,for,transportation,to,nest,sites,of,Mockingbirds,
TRANSPORTATION%TOTAL
Number,of,nights Hotel%name%and%location
If,you,are,splitting,the,cost,of,lodging,with,another,person,,make,the,"Daily,Rate",the,cost,you,will,actually,pay,,not,the,overall,cost,of,the,lodging/night.,
HOTELS%TOTAL
Number,of,days Estimated,amount/day, Notes%and/or%Explanation
Personal,items,are,not,funded.,Examples,of,personal,items,include,immunizations,passport,fees,,and,laptops.,Supplies,necessary,for,research,become,the,property,of,the,sponsoring,
academic,department,following,completion,of,the,funding,period.,
FOOD%TOTAL
Quantity%of%Registrations Conference
CONFERENCE%FEES%TOTAL
SUPPLIES%AND%OTHER%EXPENSES
Item Justification
Camera,Traps needed,to,record,predator,activity,at,nest,sites
Memory,cards to,store,video,footage,and,pictures,captured,for,review,and,analysis,
Cable,locks to,secure,and,protect,camera,traps
Battery,charger to)charge)batteries)because)video)recording)of)nest)activity)will)span)hours)at)a)
Rechargable,batteries,(20,pack) batteries,are,needed,,for,all,the,camera,traps,used,for,capturing,footage,for,review
SUPPLIES%AND%OTHER%EXPENSES%TOTAL
TOTAL%PROJECT%EXPENSES
STUDENT%ASSISTANTS%TOTAL
STUDENT%ASSISTANTS
Students,may,be,paid,an,hourly,wage,for,assisting,a,faculty,grant,recipient,with,the,faculty,member's,work.,A,student,cannot,be,paid,in,a,collaborative,project.,The,acceptable,hourly,
rate,for,students,is,$7.25,and,hour,($7.92,with,payroll,taxes).,A,student,being,paid,by,the,Newcomb,Grants,Program,must,be,an,womanEidentified,undergraduate.,If,possible,,please,
provide,the,name,and,class,year,of,student(s),you,plan,to,hire.
Justification/NotesName%and%class%year%of%student

10. OTHER%SOURCES%OF%FUNDING
Source Amount
TOTAL%AMOUNT%REQUESTED%FROM%NEWCOMB%COLLEGE%INSTITUTE 1,825.98$%%%%%%
TOTAL%CONFIRMED%FUNDING%FROM%OTHER%SOURCES CONFIRMED,sources,only.,Please,fill,in,this,amount,manually.,
Pending/Confirmed

11. Rebecca S. Wang
2411 Jay St. New Orleans, LA 70122
(504) 406-7262 rwang7@tulane.edu
Education
B.S. Environmental Biology, Tulane University expected May 2018
Benjamin Franklin High School graduated, 2014
Research Experience
Fall 2015-present
• Volunteer in microbial ecology laboratory at Tulane university
- Assisted on fungal endophyte study based on samples collected in Panama; Learned sterile
tissue technique; Attended lab meetings; Assisted in tree planting at Hebert Center
Winter 2015 (Dec. 20 – Jan. 10)
• Assistant to Ongoing Research at Tulane University
- New Orleans Rat Project
- Part of Rat Team - Making bait and trap setting (Tomahawk and Sherman traps)
- Rat and mice necropsies: collected lung, liver, kidney, urine, and blood samples used for
screening of pathogens; tails for DNA; dissected lungs to collect parasites
Summer 2015
• Assistant to Ongoing Research at Tulane University
- U.S. Forestry Service Urban Ecology Project with Tulane University
- Part of Vegetation/Forestry Team; field days twice a week which involved driving to USFS
designated plots located in different neighborhoods of New Orleans and recording data from
vegetation plots (plant species, percent coverage, etc) and tree measurements (DBH, Crown to
base, width NS and WE, percent dieback, percent missing, etc.).
Summer 2013
• Independent Research Project: Programmed Cell Death of Cultured A549 Lung Epithelial Cells
Induced by Exposure to Sodium Arsenite Exposure
- 3rd
place at Benjamin Franklin High School Science Fair
- 2nd
place at Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair
- 4th
place at Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair (January 2014)
Activities and Extracurriculars
Tulane University
Tulane University Vietnamese Association
Public Relations Officer (Spring 2015-present)
Bridging Generations at Tulane University
Cofounder; Vice President
Project Coordinator designated to Poydras Home
Classical Piano
- Piano lessons; studied with Faina Lushtak (Fall 2014-Fall 2015); studying with Daniel
Weilbaecher (Spring 2016)
Volunteer Work
Mission Trip to Honduras (Winter 2014): Visited villages in Sierra del Merendón, tiled floor of medical
clinic, attended mass with residents, community outreach – visited homes in village, played with children there,
portioned clothing and toy donations to each village visited
Animal Rescue New Orleans (Summer 2015)
Volunteer in Dr. Vanbael lab
Awards and Honors
Platzer Award of Artistic Excellence $300 awarded by the Junior Philharmonic Society of New Orleans
(2013)
Tulane Musicianship Award (2014-2016): $5,000 per year

12. VICTORIA SUNKEL
1121 Vernon Drive Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 922-7865
EDUCATION
2014-Present TULANE UNIVERSITY New Orleans, LA
Candidate for Master of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Spring
2019
Candidate for Graduation, spring 2018
Majors in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Member, Pi Beta Phi, Green Club
2010-2014 GLENBROOK SOUTH HIGHSCHOOL Glenview, IL
Graduated June 2014
National Honors Society, Academic Athletic Excellence Award
EXPERIENCE
2015-Present REFUGIO DEL GAVILÁN Ecuador
Social Media Volunteer
• Researched animals native to the area to create a brochure
• Spread awareness by posting on social media
2013- Present RIVER TRAILS NATURE CENTER Glenview, IL
Animal Care Volunteer
• Oversaw well being of animals including feeding, training,
cleaning, and playtime
• Maintained the landscape of natural plants inside and outside
• Educated visitors on the animals and environment
2013-2015 HEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER Northbrook, IL
Cat Room Volunteer
• Click here to insert details regarding position
Summer 2012 YELLOWSTONE AND CALAVASES NATIONAL PARKS California
Forest Work Volunteer
• Repaired and cleaned areas of both parks on a week long
service trip
ADDITIONAL DATA
Languages: Spanish
Computer: Knowledge of Mac and PC
LNT Certified

13. !