Amy Dabrowski (Cornell 2004) is a student in the Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program majoring in Biology. For her honors thesis, Amy is documenting the exchange of genes between Blue- and Golden-winged warblers using DNA sequencing methods.; These warbler species hybridize frequently and genetic "swamping" by expanding blue-wings has caused the recent extinction of Golden-winged Warblers in many areas of the northeast. Information from DNA markers (in this case mitochondrial DNA sequences) has shown that some seemingly pure Golden-winged Warblers have genes derived from Blue-winged Warblers.
Blue-winged Warblers have replaced Golden-winged Warblers in many areas of the Northeast. Using DNA markers, Amy is studying the genetic interchange between these hybridizing species.
Amy holding a Blue-winged Warbler that was mist netted, sampled, and released near Ithaca in June 2003.
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