Phenotypic, genetic and demographic responses to environmental variation and inbreeding in the song sparrow

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My work continues a 35 year study that has become a model system for understanding how human influence and environmental factors affect the persistence of populations and evolution of species. The new work I propose will estimate the short and long-term effects of genetic variation, brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds and climate change on the fitness individuals and persistence of small populations of birds in western North America. An overall goal of my work is to identify and rank factors most likely to affect the growth and extinction rates of populations generally and, in particular, to identify those factors most likely to be ameliorated by wildlife managers for the benefit of rare and endangered species. My approach to this work has been to develop a model system of study wherein detailed information on inbreeding and the performance of individually-marked song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), an archetypical passerine bird, is monitored continuously. These data are then applied to solve complex problems in ecology, evolution and conservation. In particular, because the genetic and demographic factors I study have often been identified as threats the persistence of populations of species around the world, my work offers a practical and inexpensive approach to identifying the most severe threats to populations and species, and the msot reliable management tactics to likely recover these populations and species. Overall, my work provides unique opportunities to answer complex questions in nature and train outstanding young scientists without the enormous expense and effort of embarking on new studies of species that are harder to monitor. The results of my own and student's work appear in several textbooks, receive attention world-wide, and should continue to do so in future.