Hastings Natural History Reservation

18 May, 07 AM - 30 Jun, 11 AM

The general goal of the project is to explicitly test reproductive skew in the cooperatively breeding acorn woodpecker based on our long-term study of this species at Hastings Natural History Reservation in central coastal California, where a color-banded population has been under study since 1971 (MacRoberts and MacRoberts 1976; Koenig and Mumme 1987). The work we are planning is an outgrowth of molecular work conducted during the past 6 years, particularly by J. Haydock as a postdoctoral fellow (Haydock et al. 2001; Haydock and Koenig 2002; Haydock and Koenig In press). Specifically, we will examine the extent to which optimal skew models can predict the observed patterns of reproductive partitioning among cobreeder males, particularly in groups with 3 or more cobreeding males and/or joint-nesting females, and conduct an experiment to test the null hypothesis for the observed pattern of paternity in groups with 2 cobreeder males. In 2003 we expect to be able to obtain blood relevant to these problems from approximately 15 nests, or about 150?25 individuals. Along with two undergraduates from Gonzaga University, I will be doing parentage analysis using microsatellites in Hastings Molecular lab. Specifically, we will be organizing samples, extract the DNA, and running PCR reactions and polyacrylamide gels. In addition, I will be writing papers based n previous results with Walter Koenig.

Visit #1278 @Hastings Natural History Reservation

Approved

Under Project # 1069 | Research

Gonzaga University - Biology

faculty - Gonzaga University

Reservation Members(s)

Joey Haydock May 18 - Jun 30, 2003 (44 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Stucco House 1 May 18 - Jun 30, 2003