I graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. I then worked several field jobs in animal behavior, disease dynamics, and conservation biology before pursuing an M.S. in Biology at the University of Tulsa (2009).

Through the University of Tulsa, I am currently/have been involved in the following projects:

1) Winter ecology of Buggy Creek virus, an arbovirus vectored by swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarious) and hosted by cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus; with Dr. Charles R. Brown, University of Tulsa)

2) Age and sex structure of swallow bugs within and between cliff swallow colonies (with Dr. Charles R. Brown, University of Tulsa)

Collecting swallow bugs in Nebraska	Swallow bug

3) Seasonal changes in adrenal responsiveness in purple finches (Carpodacus purpureus), a winter nomadic bird and temperate breeder

4) Physiological ecology of winter stress response in three species of cardueline finches (Thesis work with Dr. Maria E. Pereyra, University of Tulsa)

Collecting a blood sample from a male purple finch in Minnesota

5) The relationship between ectoparasite fauna and plumage coloration in purple finches during the breeding season (with Dr. Muir D. Eaton, Drake University)

6) Ecology of ectoparasite fauna on small rodents in Minnesota (with Dr. Joe C. Whittaker, Pikeville College)

Radio-tracking brown treecreepers in Australia

Upon my arrival at the University of Utah, we began a project to understand the effects of Haemoproteus columbae, a malaria parasite, on free-living nestling and fledgling rock pigeons (Columba livia). The field component is a piece of a larger project investigating host-parasite interactions, through laboratory experiments, between rock pigeons, a hippoboscid fly (Pseudolynchia canariensis), and Haemoproteus columbae by fellow graduate student, Jessi Waite.

I will also soon be involved in investigating the impact of an invasive ectoparasite, Philornis downsi, on medium ground finches in the Galapagos Islands. Few studies have examined how ectoparasites influence stress physiology, and together affect reproductive success and behavior. I am interested in bridging the fields of endocrinology, host-parasite interactions, and animal behavior. Parasite ecology is also an important, poorly understood aspect in the system and I have a keen interest in examining spatial and temporal distribution of the flies.

How to band a bird

Research and teaching are both incredibly important and I feel it is vital to expose the younger folks to field research. I have integrated many high school and undergraduate students into my field collection and will continue to do so in the future. I have primarily assisted as a TA in physiology courses, but more excitingly have helped with several field courses, including Field Ecology, Ornithology, Mammalogy, and Animal Behavior at Itasca Biological Station run through the University of Minnesota.

During the little spare time I have, I enjoy biking, birding/bird-banding, backpacking, hiking, playing soccer, eating bacon, and watching old western movies. Nicknames include: bird nerd and crazy bird lady, but you can call me... Knutie.

Birding on Park Point, Duluth, MN (my hometown)

Publications:

Brown, C. R., S. A. Strickler, A. T. Moore, S. A. Knutie, A. Padhi, M. B. Brown, G. R. Young, V. A. O'Brien and N. Komar. In press. Winter ecology of Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) in the central Great Plains. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases.

Brown, C. R., A. T. Moore, S. A. Knutie and N. Komar. 2009. Overwintering of infectious Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae, Alphavirus) in Oeciacus vicarius (Cimicidae) in North Dakota. Journal of Medical Entomology 46:391-394.

Henly, S., A. Ostdiek, E. Blackwell, S. Knutie, A. Dunlap and D. Stephens. 2008. The discounting by interruptions hypothesis: model and experiment. Behavioral Ecology 19(1):154-162.