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I received my PhD in Biology from Queen's University in 2000 and my BSc in Zoology from the University of Toronto in 1993. My graduate research focused on the mating competition and its consequences in female black-capped chickadees.
Prior to joining Laurier, I was a postdoctoral fellow in biology at St Mary's College of Maryland and Indiana State University (2000-2001). My postdoctoral research was on the genetics and ecology of mating strategies in white-throated sparrows.
I serve on the board of Directors of Algonquin Wildlife Research Station, where I conduct my research and have taught field ecology.
The main focus of my research is the behavioural ecology of white-throated sparrows. I am interested in the factors that influence nesting success, including food availability, weather and risk of predation. Most recently we have studied the effects of fire on territory settlement, nest site selection and nesting success. I study song variation between individuals and populations. I am also working on migration using both direct and indirect methods to estimate the wintering range of breeding birds. My main study site is in Algonquin Park, but I collaborate with colleagues on populations breeding in British Columbia.
Research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students are contingent on funding. Contact me for more information.
- Schubert, Kristen A, Daniel J. Mennill, Scott M. Ramsay, Ken A. Otter, Laurene M .Ratcliffe, and Cornelia Kraus. “Between-year survival and rank transitions in male black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus): a multistate modeling approach.” Auk 125:629-636.(2008).
- Ramsay, Scott M. and Ken A. Otter. “Fine-scale variation in the timing of reproduction in titmice and chickadees.” Ecology and Behavior of Chickadees and Titmice: an Integrated Approach. Oxford University Press. (2007).
- Formica, Vincent A., Rusty A. Gonzer, Scott M. Ramsay and Elaina M. Tuttle. “Spatial correlates of reproductive success in the polymorphic white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).” Ecology 85:1125-1136. (2004).
- Olmstead, Melissa and Scott M. Ramsay. “Clutch-initiation date and nesting success in white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis).” (manuscript in revision).
- Biology Department Chair: 2012 – 2018
- Senator: 2010 – 2015
- Graduate Program Coordinator: 2007 – 2009
- Undergraduate Advisor: 2005 – 2007