Meeting Abstract

P2.22  Monday, Jan. 5  Temporal Changes in Population Dynamics of the Pinyon Jay GAO, S.**; BENFORD, R.; SHUSTER, S.M.; BALDA, R.P.; The College of New Jersey, Ewing; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff gao2@tcnj.edu

Drought-induced pinyon pine die-off in Flagstaff, Arizona during 2002-03 had cascading effects in the pinyon jay. Effects include changes in flock demographics and organization. Two hypotheses have been generated to explain the changes. The first hypothesis suggests that changes in reproductive behavior have affected relative fitness among flocks. The second hypothesis suggests that changes in dispersal patterns have caused a source/sink dynamic to form among flocks. Observational analysis of relative fitness, and observational and genotypic analysis of dispersal behavior have found support for both hypotheses. Varied relative fitness and rates of dispersal among flocks before and after the drought have changed age and population structure, and have caused flocks to become sources and sinks. Changing patterns of fitness and dispersal suggest adaptive changes in behavior.