PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

​*denotes undergraduate student author
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2021
Merrill, L., T.M. Jones, J.D. Brawn, & M.P. Ward. (2021). Early-life patterns of growth are linked to levels of phenotypic trait covariance and postfledging mortality across avian species. Ecology and Evolution,​11:15695-15707

2020
Merrill, L., E.A. Ospina, R.M. Santymire, &T.J. Benson. (2020) Egg incubation temperature affect development of innate immune function in nestling American robins (Turdus migratorius). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 93:1-12

2019
Merrill, L., T.E. Stewart Merrill, A.M. Barger, & T.J. Benson. (2019) Avian health across the landscape: nestling immunity covaries with changing landcover.  Integrative and Comparative Biology, 59:1150-1164

Stewart Merrill, T.E., S.R. Hall, L. Merrill, & C. E. Caceres. (2019) Variation in immune defense shapes disease outcomes in laboratory and wild Daphnia. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 59:1203-1219
 
Merrill, L., S.J. Chiavacci, R.T. Paitz, & T.J. Benson. (2019) Quantification of 27 yolk steroid hormones in seven shrubland bird species: interspecific patterns of hormone deposition, and links to life history, development, and predation risk. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 97:1-12

Jones, T.M., L. Merrill, S.E. Zachar, J.D. Brawn, & M.P. Ward.  (2019) Haemosporidian parasite infections in the Dickcissel (Spiza americana): Prevalence and costs. Journal of Parasitology, 105:232-236

Gibson, J.C., A.V. Suarez, D. Qazi*, T.J. Benson, S.J. Chiavacci, & L. Merrill. (2019) Prevalence and consequences of ants and other arthropods in active nests of Midwestern birds. Canadian Journal of Zoology,​ 97:696-704

2018
Merrill, L., & J.L. Grindstaff.  (2018) Early-life stress strengthens trait covariance: a plastic response that results in reduced flexibility.  American Naturalist, 192:593-604

Merrill, L., J.M. Levengood, J.C. England, J.M. Osborn, & H.M. Hagy. (2018) Blood parasite infection linked to condition in spring-migrating Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 96:1145-1152

Ospina*, E., L. Merrill, & T.J. Benson. (2018) Incubation temperature impacts growth and total nest mortality in an open-cup-nesting bird. Ecology & Evolution, 8:3270-3279

​2017
Merrill, L. (2017) Unique preening behavior may use light and heat to facilitate ectoparasite removal in green herons (Butorides virescens). ​Ecology, 99:494-496

Merrill, L., M.F. Naylor, M. Dalimonte*, S. McLaughlin*, T.E. Stewart, & J.L. Grindstaff.  (2017) Early-life immune activation increases song complexity and alters phenotypic associations between sexual ornaments. Functional Ecology, 31:2263-2273

Merrill, L., S.J. Chiavacci, R.T. Paitz, & T.J. Benson. (2017) Rates of parasitism, but not allocation of egg resources, vary among and within hosts of a generalist avian brood parasite. Oecologia, 184:399-410

​Peer, B.D., J.W. Rivers, L. Merrill, S.K. Robinson, & S.I. Rothstein. (2017) The Brown-Headed Cowbird: A Model Species for Testing Novel Questions in Animal Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. In: Soler M. (eds) Avian Brood Parasitism. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham, Switzerland

Grindstaff, J.L. & L. Merrill. (2017) Developmental corticosterone treatment does not program immune responses in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).  Journal of Experimental Zoology-A, 327:362-372

​Merrill, L. (2017) Novel terrestrial foraging behavior in the Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps). Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 129:416-17

Ellis, V.A., M.D. Collins, M.C.I. Medeiros, E.H.R. Sari, E.D. Coffey, R.C. Dickerson, M. Joyce, C. Lugarini, J.A. Stratford, D.R. Henry, L. Merrill, A. Matthews, A. Hanson, J. Roberts, M.R. Kunkel, & R.E. Ricklefs. (2017) Parasite prevalence is positively related to the relative abundance of host species at multiple sites within a region. Parasitology Research, 116: 73-80

2016
Merrill, L., E.M. Baehl*, K.E. Ripple, & T.J. Benson. (2016) Do birds alter levels of parental investment based on nest-site habitat features? Ethology, 122:859-868

Merrill, L., M.F. Naylor, and J.L. Grindstaff (2016). Imperfect past and present progressive: beak color reflects early life and adult exposure to antigen. Behavioral Ecology, 27:1320-1330

2015
Merrill, L., & J.L. Grindstaff. (2015) Pre and post-natal antigen exposure can program the stress axis of adult zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata): evidence for environment matching. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 45:71-79

Ellis, V.A., M.D. Collins, M.C.I. Medeiros, E.H.R. Sari, E.D. Coffey, R.C. Dickerson, M. Joyce, C. Lugarini, J.A. Stratford, D.R. Henry, L. Merrill, A. Matthews, A. Hanson, J. Roberts, M.R. Kunkel, & R.E. Ricklefs. (2015) Local host specialization, host-switching, and dispersal shape the regional distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112:11294-11299

Merrill, L., P.L. González-Gómez, V.A. Ellis, I.I. Levin, R.A. Vásquez, & J.C. Wingfield. (2015) A blurring of life-history lines: immune function, molt and reproduction in a highly stable environment. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 213:65-73

Ellis, V.A., S. Cornet, L. Merrill, M.R. Kunkel, T. Tsunekage, & R.E. Ricklefs. (2015) Host immune responses to experimental infection of Plasmodium relictum (lineage SGS1) in domestic canaries (Serinus canaria).  Parasitology Research, 114:3627-3636

Merrill, L., & P.M. Collins. (2015) Environment and sex-specific allocation strategies among gonadal, somatic and immune indices in a marine fish. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 93:207-212

Merrill, L., T.E. Stewart,* P.L. Gonzalez-Gomez, J.C. Wingfield, V.A. Ellis, & S.I. Rothstein. (2015) Epaulet size and current condition in red-winged blackbirds: examining a semi-static signal, testosterone, immune function, and parasites. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 88:11-21

Stewart, T.E.,* & L. Merrill. (2015) Host sex and parasitism in red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus): examining potential causes of infection biases in a sexually dimorphic species. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 93:21-29

2014
Merrill, L. & J.L. Grindstaff. (2014) Maternal antibody transfer can lead to suppression of humoral immunity in developing zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 87: 740-751

Merrill, L. (2014) Chelydra serpentina (Snapping Turtle). Ritualized aggressive behavior. Herpetological Review, 45: 686

Merrill, L., S.D. Levinson,* A.L. O’Loghlen, J.C. Wingfield, & S.I. Rothstein. (2014) Bactericidal capacity is negatively linked to epaulet size, but positively linked to baseline corticosterone in male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). The Auk, 131: 3-11

2013
Merrill, L., A.L. O’Loghlen, J.C. Wingfield, & S.I. Rothstein. (2013) Linking a static signal to current condition: song repertoire size, corticosterone and immunity in the Brown-headed Cowbird. Condor, 115: 434-441

Gonzalez-Gomez, P.L., L. Merrill, C. Venegas, J.I. Pantoja, R. Vasquez, V.A. Ellis, & J.C. Wingfield. (2013) Breaking down seasonality: androgen modulation and stress response in a highly stable environment. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 191: 1-12

O’Loghlen, A.L., L. Merrill, & S.I. Rothstein. (2013) Fidelity of song imitation and stability of dialect songs in Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Condor, 115:677-686

Merrill, L., A.L. O’Loghlen, J.C. Wingfield, & S.I. Rothstein. (2013) Immune function in an avian brood parasite and its non-parasitic relative. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 86: 61-72

2012
Merrill, L., F. Angelier, A.L. O’Loghlen, S.I. Rothstein, & J.C. Wingfield. (2012) Sex-specific variation in Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) immunity following acute stress: a mechanistic approach. Oecologia, 170: 25-38

Ellis, V.A.,* L. Merrill, S.I. Rothstein, A.L. O’Loghlen, & J.C. Wingfield. (2012) Physiological consequences of molt in Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). The Auk, 129: 231-238

2011
O’Loghlen, A.L., V.A. Ellis,* D. Zaratzian*, L. Merrill, & S.I. Rothstein. (2011) Cultural evolution and long term song stability in a dialect population of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Condor, 113: 449-461

PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW OR REVISION

Merrill, L., E.A. Ospina, R.J. Santymire, & T.J. Benson. Egg incubation temperature impacts development and function of innate immunity in American robin (Turdus migratorius) nestlings. In Review: Journal of Experimental Biology

Merrill, L., S. Chiavacci, R. Paitz & T.J., Benson. Cowbird egg resources co-vary with host nest landscape context and site-level nest-predation risk. In Revision: Ibis
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Gibson, J.C., A.V. Suarez, D. Qazi*, T.J. Benson, S.J. Chiavacci, & L. Merrill. Prevalence and consequences of ants and other arthropods in active nests of Midwestern birds. In Revision: Canadian Journal of Zoology

Jones, T.M., L. Merrill, S.E. Zachar, J.D. Brawn, & M.P. Ward. Haemosporidian parasite infections in the Dickcissel (Spiza americana): Prevalence and costs. In Submission: Journal of Wildlife Disease