Division of Science and Engineering - Faculty

Dr.  Les Murray
Assistant Professor of Biology

Email:  ldm12@psu.edu         
Phone: 215-881-7474           
Office: 228 Woodland

Educational Background:
Ph.D.   Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
M.Sc.  Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 
B.A.     Biology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY

Research Interests:
My research investigates the relationship between bird populations and their environment.  My work is field based and uses technological tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) to assess habitat use by animals.  Currently I am developing a project to investigate habitat use by hawks along an urban-to-rural gradient in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Selected publications list:
Murray, L. D., C. A. Ribic, W. E. Thogmartin, and M. G. Knutson.  2008.  Accuracy assessment of predictive models of grassland bird abundances in the Prairie Hardwood Transition Bird Conservation Region.  Condor 110:747-755.

Murray, L. D., C. A. Ribic, and W. E. Thogmartin.  2008.  Relationship of obligate grassland birds to landscape structure in Wisconsin.  Journal of Wildlife Management 72:463-467.

Murray, L. D. and L. B. Best.  2006.  Winter bird use of Conservation Reserve Program fields harvested for biomass.  Journal of Iowa Academy of Science 113:45-48.

Murray, L. D. and L. B. Best.  2003.  Short-term bird response to harvesting switchgrass for biomass in Iowa.  Journal of Wildlife Management 67:611-621.

Murray, L. D., L. B. Best, T. J. Jacobsen, and M. L. Braster.  2003.  Potential effects on grassland birds of converting marginal cropland to switchgrass biomass production.  Biomass and Bioenergy 25:167-175.

Teaching Interests and courses taught:
My teaching interests are in ecology, evolution, and wildlife.  I have taught courses in introductory biology, ecology, wildlife management, and ecological methods.  I particularly enjoy courses that involve going outside.

Currently at Penn State Abington I teach Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (BIOL 110), Biology: Populations and Communities (BIOL 220W), Evolution (BIOL 427), and Animal Behavior (BIOL 429).