Population dynamics, morphological change and conservation of an endemic island bird in the 21st century

AOS Research Grant Seminar

Presenter: James Mouton, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University; 2021 AOS Postdoctoral Research Grant winner

The Island Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma insularis) is restricted to a single island, making understanding its response to environmental change particularly important for its long-term conservation. I will explore how morphology and population dynamics have changed in recent years, including evidence for selection during hotter years and population stability through severe drought, and discuss what these patterns mean for conservation in the 21st century.