Bio
Dr. Little’s specialty is behavioral ecology, with a focus on reproductive and related social behaviors. She has studied courtship, pair formation, and aggression in monogamous birds and fishes as well as territoriality in polygynous fishes, conservation of endangered species, extra-pair paternity, and hybridization. Dr. Little has taught various biology courses in zoology, animal behavior, evolution, ecology, and introductory biology at several universities prior to taking her position at the U.S. Air Force Academy. She is also the proud parent of a Holland Lop named Grand Nagus Zek.
Education
Ph.D., Integrative Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2014)
M.S., Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky (2010)
B.S., Zoology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama (2006)
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy (2019-present)
Lecturer, University of Texas San Antonio (2019)
Assistant Professor, University of Texas of the Permian Basin (2015-2019)
Adjunct Faculty, DeSales University (2014)
Adjunct Faculty, University of Scranton (2014)
Honors & Awards
NSLS Excellence in Teaching Award (2015; UT Permian Basin)
Graduate Research Fellow (2012; Lehigh University)
ACA Guy Jordan Research Fund Award (2012)
Lehigh University College of Arts and Sciences Research Grant (2011)
Lehigh University College of Arts and Sciences Summer Fellowship (2011)
Lehigh University Forum Grant (2009)
Research and Scholarly Interests
Ecological, evolutionary and hormonal components of animal behavior
Publications
Bloch, A., Al-Shaer, L., Little, K. and Itzkowitz, M. 2018. Effect of territory intruders on the perceived quality of territorial males in an endangered pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus). Behaviour 155: 465-479.
Al-Shaer, L., Bloch, A., Little, K., and Itzkowitz, M. 2018. Monitoring social behaviour as an assessment of translocation success in a reintroduced population of the endangered Leon Springs Pupfish (Cyprinidon bovinus). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 1-8.
Little, K. P., Al-Shaer, L. and Itzkowitz, M. 2017. Effects of social experience on subsequent pair bonding in a monogamous fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciatum). Behaviour 651-657.
Black, A., Snekser, J., Al-Shaer, L., Paciorek, T., Bloch, A., Little, K., and Itzkowitz, M. 2015. A review of the Leon Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus) long-term conservation strategy and response to habitat restoration. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 26: 410-416.
Ritchison, G. and Little, K.P. 2014. Provisioning behavior of male and female Indigo Buntings. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 126: 370-373.
Little, K.P., Draud, M.J., and Itzkowitz, M. 2013. Interspecific aggression in two highly similar Stegastes damselfish. Ethology, Ecology and Evolution 25: 227-242.
Gumm, J.M., Snekser, J.L., Leese, J.M., Little, K.P., Leiser, J.K , Imhoff, V.E., Westrick, B. and Itzkowitz, M. 2012. Management of interactions between endangered species using habitat restoration. Biological Conservation 144: 2171-2176.
Mullen, S.P, Little, K., Draud, M., Brozek, J., and Itzkowitz, M. 2012. Hybridization among Caribbean damselfish species correlates with habitat degradation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 416: 221-229.
Leiser, J.K., Little, K.P., and Itzkowitz, M. 2011. Mate sampling in a natural population of Pecos Gambusia, Gambusia nobilis. Western North American Naturalist 70:483-489.