People - Visiting Researchers

Roger Bull

Roger Bull (M.Sc. candidate, Queen's University, Ontario) is a visiting fellow researching the population genetics of Orange-crowned Warblers. Roger is using microsatellite markers to examine how populations of this species are related to one another. His work is part of a larger project examining several avian populations from the Haida Gwaii archipelago of British Columbia (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). Populations of mammals, birds, insects, plants and lichens inhabiting this archipelago have been identified as distinct from conspecific mainland populations. Morphologically distinct races endemic to Haida Gwaii have been recognized for several avian species, including the Saw-whet Owl, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Steller's Jay, and Hairy Woodpecker. Whether these local races are genetically distinct from their mainland counterparts is largely unknown. On top of examining the uniqueness of Haida Gwaii populations of Orange-crowned Warbler, Roger is looking at broader questions such as whether there is detectable gene flow between populations across the breeding range, and whether genetic differences correspond with the currently recognised subspecies classifications.

To learn more about Roger's work, please visit his home page.

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