Dissertation Research: Population Genetics and Demography of Goshawks Using Non-invasive Genetic Sampling

北苍鹰（Accipiter gentilis）是北美的鹰，在成熟的森林内部捕猎和筑巢。他们的需求经常与森林管理（灭火、木材采伐）相冲突，现在的担忧是西方的人口正在减少。人们对该物种的种群趋势和遗传学知之甚少，因为研究苍鹰既困难又昂贵。然而，苍鹰每年都会换羽毛，这些羽毛很容易在巢穴收集到。这些羽毛提供的DNA有助于独特地识别个体并随时间追踪它们。脱毛羽毛的遗传指纹将用于研究：(1)亚利桑那州北部凯巴布高原上苍鹰15年的种群趋势；(2)北美西部苍鹰种群间的连通性和亲缘性。对数量下降的担忧促使人们提交请愿书，将西部的苍鹰列为濒危物种。美国鱼类和野生动物管理局指出，需要进行更多的研究来评估种群数量，并确定可能需要保护的独特种群部分（即亚种）。这项研究将为指导苍鹰的管理和保护提供信息。此外，这项研究证明了基于蜕皮羽毛的成本效益和非侵入性遗传方法的实用性，这些方法不需要在野外捕获和处理动物。

Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) are North American hawks that hunt and nest within the interiors of mature forests. Their needs are often in conflict with forest management (fire suppression, timber harvest), and the concern now is that populations in the West are declining. Little is known about the species' population trends and genetics because studying goshawks is difficult and expensive. Goshawks, however, molt their feathers every year, which are easily collected at nest sites. These feathers provide DNA that is useful for uniquely identifying individuals and tracking them over time. Genetic fingerprints from molted feathers will be used to study: (1) a fifteen-year population trend for goshawks on the Kaibab Plateau, in northern Arizona; and (2) connectivity and relatedness among goshawk populations in western North America. Concern over population declines has prompted the filing of petitions to list goshawks in the West as endangered. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cites the need for more studies to assess populations and to identify unique population segments (i.e., sub-species) that may warrant protection. This research will provide information to guide management and conservation of goshawks. Additionally, this research demonstrates the utility of cost-effective and non-invasive genetic methods based on molted feathers that do not require capturing and handling of animals in the wild.