World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Laurene M. Ratcliffe

Laurene M. Ratcliffe

D-Index & Metrics

Animal Science and Veterinary

D-Index
50
Citations
7988
World Ranking
622
National Ranking
46

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
50
Citations
7988
World Ranking
3903
National Ranking
271

Overview

Laurene M. Ratcliffe is affiliated with Queen's University in Canada and works primarily in the fields of Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences. Their research focuses extensively on animal and avian ecology, behavior, and physiological adaptations within ecological systems.

The scientist's work covers multiple subfields, including Ecology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Parasitology, Biochemistry, and Nature and Landscape Conservation. Their research topics are varied but show a consistent focus on areas such as Animal Behavior and Reproduction, Avian ecology and behavior, Physiological and biochemical adaptations, Bird parasitology and diseases, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, as well as Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress, and Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies.

Ratcliffe has contributed to a series of publications in recognized scientific venues. Notable papers include:

  • Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), 2020, Birds of the World
  • Feather carotenoids of the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) across age and sex classes and the reliability of standard color metrics to capture pigment variation, 2024, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Do candidate genes for migration and behavior explain migratory variation in bluebirds (Sialia spp.)?, 2020, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
  • Do candidate genes for migration and behavior explain migratory variation in bluebirds (Sialia spp.)?, 2021, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
  • Effects of urbanization and nest-box design on reproduction vary by species in three cavity-nesting passerines in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2020, Canadian Journal of Zoology

Frequent publication venues for Ratcliffe's research include:

  • The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
  • Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Canadian Journal of Zoology
  • SSRN Electronic Journal
  • Birds of the World

Collaboration plays a role in Ratcliffe's research environment, with several frequent co-authors contributing to multiple publications. These collaborators include Catherine A. Dale, Jocelyn Hudon, Kile McKenna, Kingsley K. Donkor, and Sean M. Mahoney.

Best Publications

  • Tropical winter habitat limits reproductive success on the temperate breeding grounds in a migratory bird.

    D. Ryan Norris;Peter P. Marra;T. Kurt Kyser;Thomas W. Sherry

  • Female eavesdropping on male song contests in songbirds.

    Daniel J. Mennill;Laurene M. Ratcliffe;Peter T. Boag

  • Do female black-capped chickadees prefer high-ranking males as extra-pair partners?

    Ken Otter;Laurene Ratcliffe;Denise Michaud;Peter T. Boag

  • Design of Playback Experiments: The Thornbridge Hall NATO ARW Consensus

    Peter K. McGregor;Clive K. Catchpole;Torben Dabelsteen;J. Bruce Falls

  • Honest advertisement and song output during the dawn chorus of black-capped chickadees

    Ken Otter;Bryan Chruszcz;Laurene Ratcliffe

  • Non-breeding season events influence sexual selection in a long-distance migratory bird

    Matthew W. Reudink;Peter P. Marra;T. Kurt Kyser;Peter T. Boag

  • Pitch shifts and song structure indicate male quality in the dawn chorus of black-capped chickadees

    Peter J. Christie;Daniel J. Mennill;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • Overlapping and matching in the song contests of black-capped chickadees

    Daniel J Mennill;Laurene M Ratcliffe

  • Disruptive sexual selection for plumage coloration in a passerine bird

    Erick Greene;Bruce E. Lyon;Vincent R. Muehter;Laurene Ratcliffe

  • Species recognition in Darwin's finches (Geospiza, Gould). III. Male responses to playback of different song types, dialects and heterospecific songs

    Laurene M. Ratcliffe;Peter R. Grant

  • Achromatic color variation in black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapilla: black and white signals of sex and rank

    Daniel J. Mennill;Stéphanie M. Doucet;Stéphanie M. Doucet;Robert Montgomerie;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • Reproductive Effort, Molting Latitude, and Feather Color in a Migratory Songbird

    D. Ryan Norris;D. Ryan Norris;Peter P. Marra;Robert Montgomerie;T. Kurt Kyser

  • Hydrogen isotopic variation in migratory bird tissues of known origin: implications for geographic assignment

    Kathryn M. Langin;Matthew W. Reudink;Peter P. Marra;D. Ryan Norris

  • Migratory connectivity of a widely distributed songbird, the American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

    D. Ryan Norris;Peter P. Marra;Gabriel J. Bowen;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • Female Initiated Divorce in a Monogamous Songbird: Abandoning Mates for Males of Higher Quality

    Ken Otter;Laurene Ratcliffe

  • Patterns of extrapair mating in relation to male dominance status and female nest placement in black-capped chickadees

    Daniel J. Mennill;Scott M. Ramsay;Peter T. Boag;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • The reaction of great tits (Parus major) to playback of degraded and undegraded songs: the effect of familiarity with the stimulus song type

    Peter K. McGregor;John R. Krebs;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • Absolute and Relative Pitch Production in the Song of the Black-Capped Chickadee

    Ron Weisman;Laurene Ratcliffe;Ingrid Johnsrude;T. Andrew Hurly

  • Frequency Variation in Songs of Black-Capped Chickadees (Parus Atricapillus)

    A. G. Horn;M. L. Leonard;L. Ratcliffe;S. A. Shackleton

  • Achromatic plumage reflectance predicts reproductive success in male black-capped chickadees

    Stéphanie M. Doucet;Daniel J. Mennill;Robert Montgomerie;Peter T. Boag

  • MITOCHONDRIAL DNA HOMOGENEITY IN THE PHENOTYPICALLY DIVERSE REDPOLL FINCH COMPLEX (AVES: CARDUELINAE: CARDUELIS FLAMMEA-HORNEMANNI).

    Gilles Seutin;Laurene M. Ratcliffe;Peter T. Boag

  • Divorce and extrapair mating in female black-capped chickadees (Parus atricapillus) : separate strategies with a common target

    Scott M. Ramsay;Kenneth A. Otter;Daniel J. Mennill;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • The reproductive choices of eavesdropping female black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus

    Daniel J. Mennill;Daniel J. Mennill;Peter T. Boag;Laurene M. Ratcliffe

  • Changes in singing behavior of male black-capped chickadees (Parus atricapillus) following mate removal

    Ken Otter;Laurene Ratcliffe

  • Molting Latitude, and Feather Color in a Migratory Songbird

    D. Ryan Norris;Peter P. Marra;Robert Montgomerie;T. Kurt Kyser

Frequent Co-Authors

Daniel J. Mennill
Daniel J. Mennill University of Windsor
Peter T. Boag
Peter T. Boag Queen's University
Peter P. Marra
Peter P. Marra Georgetown University
D. Ryan Norris
D. Ryan Norris University of Guelph
Robert Montgomerie
Robert Montgomerie Queen's University
Daniel M. Weary
Daniel M. Weary University of British Columbia
Ingrid S. Johnsrude
Ingrid S. Johnsrude University of Western Ontario
Linda A. Whittingham
Linda A. Whittingham University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Stéphanie M. Doucet
Stéphanie M. Doucet University of Windsor
Andrew G. Horn
Andrew G. Horn Dalhousie University

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For students interested in expanding their knowledge beyond traditional Animal Science and Veterinary studies, several related online degree programs offer diverse career opportunities. These programs not only provide specialized knowledge but also flexibility through online learning.

Those passionate about behavior analysis can explore bcba accredited programs. These are ideal for individuals aiming to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts, a field that complements animal behavior expertise with applications in human and animal settings.

Students considering mental health and psychological support roles may find value in nasp accredited programs. These programs prepare candidates for careers in school psychology, focusing on developmental and behavioral challenges, which can relate to animal-assisted therapy and educational environments.

Advancing clinical psychology credentials through online psyd programs accredited by apa offers a pathway for those wanting to integrate psychology with veterinary care or animal welfare research.

Additionally, for individuals seeking to support recovery and rehabilitation, becoming a drug counselor through become a drug counselor online programs can lead to important roles in addiction counseling, sometimes involving therapeutic animal-assisted interventions.

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