Date of Award
12-5-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Than Boves
Committee Members
Brook Fluker; John Harris
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2017 W67
Abstract
Investigating factors that influence species’ ranges and the potential consequences arising from expansion is vital in successfully predicting future distributions. Species-habitat associations are considered to be fixed, but if they are variable, inaccurate forecasts may occur. Additionally, hybridization with heterospecifics can affect species’ ranges, possibly preventing successful expansion. Here, I used two expanding bird species, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forticatus) and Western Kingbird (T. verticalis), to assess how differential habitat selection and hybridization may influence range expansion. First, I explored variation in habitat selection behavior of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers by comparing habitat selection patterns at the periphery with the historic core of their ranges, and uncovered differential patterns between the regions. Secondly, I genetically documented an undescribed pattern of hybridization involving two sympatric species simultaneously undergoing range expansion. Introgressive hybridization between the two species has occurred across their ranges but I found no negative reproductive consequences of these events
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Worm, Alexander Joseph, "Causes and Consequences of Range Expansion in the Genus Tyrannus" (2017). Student Theses and Dissertations. 549.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/549
