Each year an estimated 10 billion land birds migrate between northern and southern latitudes in search of suitable habitat for breeding and over-wintering. Long distance migration is energetically costly and dangerous, creating the potential for strong natural selection on traits that ensure a successful journey. Migratory divides, defined as regions of contact between populations with distinct migratory pathways, provide a unique opportunity to examine how differences in migration behavior may reduce mating success between divergent migratory forms. This research will test the hypothesis that differences in migratory behavior across a migratory divide in the Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) limits mating opportunities between distinct migratory forms.

The Swainson's thrush system will serve as a model for investigation of the importance of divergent migratory strategies to the process of diversification in other migratory organisms. The proposed research will investigate the importance of considering divergent migratory forms as evolutionarily distinct units for conservation planning and management. Interns from under-represented ethnic and gender groups have been and will continue to be integral component of the proposed research.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0508862
Program Officer
Samuel M. Scheiner
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2005-06-15
Budget End
2007-05-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$12,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704