Alexander Cruz

Professor

alexander.cruz@colorado.edu
303-492-6685
Ramaley N306

Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, 1973

Research Interests

Ecological problems with a biogeographical, behavioral, or evolutionary slant, especially through field studies designed to illuminate questions of theoretical importance, application of science to the problems of wildlife conservation. More than half of current work is conducted in the neotropics, especially the West Indies. Current or recently completed research projects include (1) avian brood parasitism; (2) avian community structure in natural and plantation forests in the neotropics; (3) conservation biology; (4) management of forest habitat for wildlife, particularly key species; (5) autoecological, behavioral, and life history studies of landbirds; (6) coevolutionary aspects of plant and animal interactions; (7) fish ecology and behavior and (8) reproductive biology of fishes; and (9) obligate brood parasitismin fishes.

Recent Publications

Francis, C. D., C. P. Ortega, and A. Cruz. 2009.  Noise pollution changes avian communities and species interactions.  Current Biology 19:1415-1419.

Cruz, A., J. W. Prather, J. W. Wiley, and P. Weaver.  2008.  Increase in Egg Rejection in a Population Exposed to Parasitism:  Village Weavers on Hispaniola.  Behavioral Ecology 19(2):398-403.

Cruz, A., R. Lopez-Ortiz, E. A. Ventosa-Febles, J. W. Wiley, T. K. Nakamura, and W. Post.  2005.  Ecology and Management of the Shiny Cowbird and the endangered Yellow-shouldered Blackbird in Puerto Rico.  In Management of cowbirds and their hosts: balancing science, ethics, and mandates. American Ornithologists' Union. Ornithological Monographs 57:38-44.

Munger, L., A. Cruz, and S. Applebaum.  2004.  Mate choice copying in the Humpback Limia (Limia nigrofasciata, Family Poeciliidae).  Ethology 110:1-11.

Cruz, A., J. Knox, and S. Pawlowski. 2004.  Obligate Brood Parasitism in a freshwater fish, Synodontis multipunctatus, the Cuckoo Catfish.  Pp. 180-182 in Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior.  Greenwood Press.

Chace, J. F., J. J. Walsh, A. Cruz, J. W. Prather, and H. Swanson.  2003.  Spatial and temporal activity patterns of the brood parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird at an urban/wildland interface. Landscape and Urban Planning 64:179-185.

Applebaum, S. and A. Cruz.  2000.  The role of mate-choice copying and disruption effects in mate preference determination of Limia perugiae (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae).  Ethology 106:3-944.

Post, W., and A. Cruz . 1993. The North American invasion pattern of the Shiny Cowbird. Journal of Field Ornithology 64:32-41.

Cruz , A., and J.W. Wiley. 1989. The decline of an adaptation in the absence of a presumed selection pressure. Evolution 43:55-62.

Cruz , A., J.W. Wiley, T.K. Nakamura, and W. Post. 1989. The Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis in the West Indian region - biogeographical and ecological implications. In: Biogeography of the West Indies: Past, Present, and Future. Sandhill Crane Press, Inc., Gainesville, Florida. 896 pp.

Wiley, R.E., and A. Cruz . 1980. The Jamaican Blackbird: A "Natural Experiment" in socioecology. Evol. Biology 13:261-291.