New Insights into Migration and Conservation through Bird Genoscapes and Beyond

Christen Bossu, PhD

Tue, Apr 12, 2022 7:00 PM

Most populations of migratory birds are now threatened. It is estimated that the populations of 1 out of every 2 songbirds are declining in the Western Hemisphere with impacts predicted to worsen with climate change. However, because migratory birds have both breeding and wintering areas and may move vast distances between them, understanding where the steepest population declines are occurring has been difficult or impossible.

To address this critical issue, researchers started the Bird Genoscape Project. The project is an effort to map the population-specific migratory routes of 100 species of migratory songbirds by harnessing the power of genomics.

Genomics, the study of how genes evolve and vary in individuals and populations, can be used to understand the evolution and conservation of migratory birds in novel ways. Identifying the migratory connections provides an effective tool for monitoring declining populations and for developing effective conservation strategies.

Join us for a fascinating presentation on this cutting-edge research.

Here is a video of the talk: