Congratulations to course organizers/leaders Ben Freeman and Alexa Class Freeman, and to the student co-authors, for the first of several scientific papers arising out of their Spring 2015 Advanced Tropical Ornithology course. Back at the curriculum review stage there was some healthy push-back when peer-reviewed student publications were suggested as a learning outcome of this opportunity, and it is great to see that–with careful planning and skillful mentoring throughout the scientific process–these kinds of experiences can indeed give our undergraduates the experience of generating fully professional scientific products!
Link to an article about the paper: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/for-tropical-wren-songs-and-species-evolve-in-isolation/
Citation and link to paper: Teresa M. Pegan, Reid B. Rumelt, Sarah A. Dzielski, Mary Margaret Ferraro, Lauren E. Flesher, Nathaniel Young, Alexandra Class Freeman, Benjamin G. Freeman. Asymmetric response of Costa Rican White-Breasted Wood-Wrens (Henicorhina leucosticta) to vocalizations from allopatric populations. PLOS ONE. December 2015.