Research

My interests include the fields of ecology, behavior, comparative physiology and evolutionary biology. Most of my research and that of my students involves wild vertebrates, combines field and laboratory approaches and concentrates on energetic aspects of adaptations to different environments. In the past few years our work has included foraging behavior in squirrels, investigations of endangered species of mammals, locomotion in frogs, thermoregulation in screech owls, parasite-mediated competition in flying squirrels, the coevolutionary relationships of tree squirrels and certain species of conifers and fungi, the biomechanics of the hind limbs and talons of hawks and owls, and the possible role of megaherbivores in maintaining grassland habitats.

Selected Publications

Weigl, P.D. and T.W. Knowles. Temperate mountain grasslands: a climate-herbivore hypothesis for origins and persistence. Journal of Vegetation Sciences. In review.

Thorington, K.K. and P.D. Weigl, 2011. Role of kinships in the formation of southern flying squirrel winter aggregations. Journal of Mammalogy, 92(1): 179-189.

Thorington, K.K. and P.D. Weigl, 2011. Persistence of southern flying squirrel winter aggregations: roles of kinship, familiarity, and intruder squirrels. Journal of Mammalogy, 92: 1005-1012.

Weigl, P.D. 2009. The Natural History Conundrum Revisited: Mammology Begins at Home. Journal of Mammalogy, 90(2): 265-269.

Weigl, P.D. 2007.The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus): A conservation challenge. Journal of Mammalogy, 88(4): 897-907.

Winterrouwd, M.F. and P.D. Weigl, 2006. Mechanisms of cache retrieval in group nesting of southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans). Journal of Mammalogy, 90(2): 265-269.

Arbogast, BS, RA Browne, PD Weigl, and GJ Kenagy. 2005. Conservation genetics of endangered flying squirrels (Glaucomys) from the Appalachian mountains of eastern North America.  Animal Conservation 8:1-11.

Ward, AB, PD Weigl, and R Conroy. 2002. Functional morphology of raptor hindlimbs: implications for resource partitioning. Auk 119:1052-1063.

Arbogast, BS., RA Browne, and PD Weigl. 2001. Evolutionary genetics and Pleistocene geography of North American tree squirrels (Tamiasciurus). Journal of Mammology 82:302-319.

Weigl, PD and TW Knowles. 1999. Antiquity of southern Appalachian grass balds: The role of keystone megaherbivores. In: R.P. Eckerlin, ed. Proceedings of the Appalachian Biogeography Symposium. Virginia Museum of Natural History No. 7:215-224. [click here for PDF version]

Weigl, PD, TW Knowles, and AC Boynton. 1999. The ecology of the endangered flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus, in the southern Appalachians. Special Publ. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. 93 pp.

Weigl, PD, LJ Sherman, AI Williams, MA Steele, and DS Weaver. 1998. Geographic variation in the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger): A consideration of size clines, habitat vegetation, food habits and evolutionary history. In: MA Steele, JF Merrit and DA Zegers, eds. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of tree squirrels. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Special Publ. No. 6:171-184.

Thomas, RB and PD Weigl. 1998. Dynamic foraging behavior in the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volaus): Test of a model. American Midland Naturalist140:264-270.

Wetzel, EJ and PD Weigl. 1994. Ecological implications for flying squirrels (Glaucomys spp.) of effects of temperature on the in vitro development and behavior of Strongyloides robustus. American Midland Naturalist 131:43-54.

Knowles, TW and PD Weigl. 1990. Thermal dependence of anuran burst locomotor performance. Copeia. 1990(3):796-802.

Weigl, PD, MA Steele, LJ Sherman, JC Ha, and TS Sharpe. 1989. The ecology of the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) in North Carolina: implications for survival in the Southeast. Bulletin Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee Fl. #24. 150 pp.

Roberts, EP, Jr. and PD Weigl. 1984. Habitat preference in the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis): the role of photoperiod and dominance. Anim. Behav. 32:709-714.

Weigl, PD and EV Hanson. 1980. Observational learning and the feeding behavior of the red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus: the ontogeny of optimization. Ecology 61:213-218.