Dr. Emily Uhrig

Director of Education, Center for Wildlife Studies

PhD Zoology, Oregon State University

MBA General Management, University of Maine

BS Biology, Western Oregon University

Email: euhrig@centerforwildlifestudies.org

Emily is a behavioral ecologist whose research broadly focuses on how parasites and pathogens affect animal physiology and behavior. She is particularly interested in understanding how anthropogenic factors influence host-parasite interactions. Her research, much of which has centered on reptiles, combines field and laboratory-based studies.

Before working with CWS, Emily was a project coordinator with the University of Maine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests where she managed logistics, professional development activities, and student programs for collaborative multi-organization projects. Earlier in her career, she was a freelance science writer/editor, faculty member at Southern Oregon University, instructor at Oregon State University, and Postdoctoral Fellow at Linköping University in Sweden. Emily is currently on the Board of Directors for the Conservation Burial Alliance, which promotes natural burial as a means of land conservation.

  • Pugh, K., Uhrig, E.J., Fergusson, M., Weiskittel, A., Moeykens, S., Saffeir, J.D. 2024. Collaborating for a thriving Maine forest sector. Maine Policy Review. 33(1). https://doi.org/10.53558/IUPT7507

    Friesen, C.R., Uhrig, E.J., and Mason, R.T. 2021. Dehydrated males are less likely to dive into the mating pool. Behavioral Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab151

    Friesen, C.R., Mason, R.T., and Uhrig, E.J. 2021. Postcopulatory sexual selection as a driver of sex-and population-specific kidney mass in garter snakes? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 133: 93-104.

    Rollings, N., Waye, H.L., Krohmer, R.W., Uhrig, E.J., Mason, R.T., Olsson, M., Whittington, C.M., and Friesen, C.R. 2020. Sperm telomere length correlates with blood telomeres and body size in red‐sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. Journal of Zoology. 312: 21-31.

    Abbey-Lee, R. N., Uhrig, E. J., Garnham, L., Lundgren, K., Child, S., & Løvlie, H. 2018. Experimental manipulation of monoamine levels alters personality in crickets. Scientific Reports. 8: 16211.

    Abbey-Lee, R.N., Uhrig, E.J., Zidar, J., Favati, A., Almberg, J., Dahlblom, J., Winberg, S., Løvlie, H. 2018. The influence of rearing on behavior, brain monoamines and gene expression in three-spined sticklebacks. Brain, Behavior and Evolution. 91: 201-213.

    Friesen, C.R., Uhrig, E.J., Bentz, E.J., Blakemore, L.A., Mason, R.T. 2017. Correlated evolution of sexually selected traits: interspecific variation in ejaculates, sperm morphology, copulatory mate guarding, and body size in two sympatric species of garter snakes. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 71: 180.

    Rollings, N., Uhrig, E.J., Krohmer, R.W, Waye, H.L., Mason, R.T., Olsson, M., Whittington, C., Friesen, C.R. 2017 Age-related sex differences in body condition and telomere dynamics of red-sided garter snakes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 284: 20162146. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2146.

    Friesen, C.R., Uhrig, E.J., Mason. R.T., Brennan, P.L.R. 2016. Female behavior and the interaction of male and female genital traits mediate sperm transfer during mating. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 29:952-964.

    Uhrig, E. J., Spagnoli, S.T., Tkach, V.V., Kent, M.L., Mason, R.T. 2015. Alaria mesocercariae in the tails of red-sided garter snakes: evidence for parasite-mediated caudectomy. Parasitology Research. 144: 4451-4461.

    Uhrig, E.J., LeMaster, M.P., Mason, R.T. 2014. Species specificity of methyl ketone profiles in the skin lipids of female garter snakes, genus Thamnophis. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 53:51-58.

    Friesen, C.R., Uhrig, E.J., Mason. R.T. 2014. Females remate more frequently when mated with sperm-deficient males. Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part A. 321A: 603-609.

    Uhrig, E.J., Lutterschmidt, D.I., LeMaster, M.P., Mason, R.T. 2013. Methyl ketone production in juvenile female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, pp 235-243 in M.L. East and M. Dehnhard (eds.), Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 12, Springer Science+Business Media, New York.

    Friesen, C.R., Uhrig, E.J., Squire, M.K., Mason. R.T., Brennan, P.L.R. 2013. Sexual conflict over mating in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) as indicated by experimental manipulation of genitalia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 281: 20132694.

    Uhrig, E.J., Lutterschmidt, D.I., Mason, R.T., LeMaster, M.P. 2012. Pheromonal mediation of intraseasonal declines in the attractivity of female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 38:71-80.