Browsing by Author "To begin with, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my thesis advisor Dr. Michelle Y. Monette for giving me the opportunity to work on this project, providing valuable guidance and feedback, and challenging me to grow as a researcher. Dr. Monette provided me with unlimited support and unconditional guidance throughout my master's program. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Theodora Pinou for her guidance and mentoring throughout my degree process. Without the support and collaboration of many people, this research would not have been possible. Lucas Savoy and the Biodiversity Research Institute deserve a tremendous thank you for providing funding for this project, helping to collect samples, and providing guidance, support, and feedback throughout the past two years. As well, I want to thank Dr. Nina Schoch and the staff at Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation for the opportunity to be involved in this project and for assistance with sampling. Also, I would like to thank Dr. Randall Walikonis from the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut, Storrs for the use of the Licor Odyssey Infrared Scanner. Lastly, thank you to the members of my committee, Dr. Mark Pokras, Dr. James Paruk, and Dr. Patrice Boily, who provided guidance and support throughout my degree. I am grateful to the National Science Foundation for awarding me a 2021 Graduate Research Fellowship, which has enabled me to complete this research. As a final note, I would like to thank my family, friends, and fellow graduate students for their constant support and love."