Boulder Chickadee Study

What we study:

Black-capped and mountain chickadees are closely-related species that co-occur in Boulder County but occupy different habitats based on elevation. The Boulder Chickadee Study leverages an extensive network of nest boxes from Boulder up to the Mountain Research Station to examineÌýhow cities are changingÌýinteractions between these two species from both genomic and field-based perspectives. We pair field studies with cutting-edge genomic tools to understand interactions between these inquisitive & industrious birds.

We are broadly interested in understanding how human-modified spaces are impacting the interactions between these two species.ÌýWe currently have the following on-going projects:

  • Assessing the degree of geographic overlap and hybridization between the two species
  • Quantifying nest parasites along mountain slopes
  • Characterizing the feather patterning of the two species
  • Characterizing song variation within and between species
  • Characterizing nest temperature and composition variation within and between species
BCS visual abstract genomics

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Publications

Taylor O, Grabenstein KC, Theodosopoulos AN, Leeson H, Taylor SA, Branch CL. Accepted. Chickadees sing different songs in sympatry versus allopatry. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

Theodosopoulos AN,ÌýGrabenstein KC, Larrieu M, Arnold V, Taylor SA.ÌýAccepted. Similar parasite communities but dissimilar infection patterns in two closely related chickadee species.ÌýOrnithology.

Grabenstein KC, Burg T, Otter K, Taylor SA.ÌýHybridization between closely related songbirds is related to human habitat disturbance.ÌýGlobal Change Biology. 29:955-968.Ìý

Grabenstein KC, Burg T, Otter K, Taylor SA. Sympatry leads to reduced body condition in chickadees that occasionally hybridize.ÌýEcology and Evolution. Accepted.Ìý

Grabenstein KC, Taylor SA. 2018. Breaking Barriers: Causes, Consequences, and Experimental Utility of Human-Mediated Hybridization. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,Ìý33(3), 198–212.
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In the Press

"Boulder Chickadee Study explores hybrid trends" by Jeff Mitton

with Kathryn and Scott!

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