| Laura Stenzler (Cornell M.S. 2001) is responsible for general lab organization, training, and protocol development. Laura did her graduate work here at Cornell, where she conducted an analysis of the genetic population structure of two bird species with contrasting natal dispersal behavior: the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) and the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). Laura used microsatellite DNA to determine whether there are genetic consequences to being a long distance disperser (Tree Swallow) versus short distance (Florida Scrub-Jay). She is continuing this work by expanding the geographic scale and the range of genetic tools in the population analyses.
A Florida Scrub-Jay having a blood sample drawn for DNA isolation and analysis. Florida Scrub-Jays do not disperse far from their natal site, resulting in a trend toward increasing genetic distance with relatively short geographic distances. |
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