For wildlife biology graduate student Amie Settlecowski, having freshman Stamps scholar Katie Davis assist with her research is about more than convenience — it’s about mentoring the next generation of female conservationists.
Settlecowski and Davis — who is double majoring in natural resource ecology and management and Spanish, are researching the genetic structure of populations of Bachman’s sparrows. Bachman’s sparrows are usually found in longleaf pine forests, but the species is at risk due to fire suppression, timber clearing and fragmentation of its habitat, Settlecowski said.
Associate professor Sabrina Taylor said the species is generally found in pockets of longleaf pine ecosystems stretching from Florida to Texas and as far north as the Carolinas. Only three percent of longleaf pine habitats remain in the United States, she said.
Settlecowski’s thesis research focuses on comparing the genetics of modern populations of Bachman’s sparrows to historical populations to assess the relative level of genetic variation. In recent years, population levels have been declining and there has been a loss of genetic variation, she said.
Preserving genetic variation is critical to a species’ conservation because inbreeding leads to low survival rates and decreased reproductive success, Taylor said.
Settlecowski and Davis are currently compiling a database of specimens and species sightings from museums across the country. In addition to her main research project, Settlecowski is also using the records to assess why the species experienced a historic northern range expansion 100 years ago.
Once in the lab, Settlecowski and Davis will perform genetic analyses on DNA samples collected from the toe pads of dried bird skins and compare the results to the genetic structures of modern populations. Settlecowski said she’ll be requesting a number of DNA samples from the various museum collections sampled.
Toe pads are often the best source of remnant DNA samples from bird specimens more than 40 years old. Few scientists preserved the soft tissue of specimens because genetic testing was uncommon at the time, and they instead dried and preserved only the skin, she said.
Settlecowski said the research results will be used to assess how best to maintain existing Bachman’s sparrow populations. With the results, managers can determine whether to devote their efforts to maintaining the longleaf pine habitats themselves or improving the genetic variation of the different population groups, she said.
Conservation efforts like these are critical because global biodiversity is drastically declining.
“We’re at this critical moment in the history of life because we’re at this time when we’re losing so many species of plants and animals, fungus, and even bacteria, before, in some cases, we’re even able to identify them,” Settlecowski said.
Instilling the importance of conservation in the next generation is important because today’s students will soon be the stewards of the earth, Taylor said.
Davis said she first became interested in conservation work after reading Jane Goodall’s “Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species are being Rescued from the Brink.” Davis said she had intended to become a veterinarian, but the book inspired her to pursue conservation work in college.
Davis said she’s always found working with animals easier than humans. Growing up with dogs, Davis said assessing animals’ body language came easily, whereas humans often mask their real emotions.
Settlecowski said having Davis’ help in the lab is beneficial, but ensuring Davis learns from the experience and is able to pursue her own interests in the future is her ultimate goal. Having the support of driven female mentors as an undergraduate enhanced her undergraduate career and set her up for success, Settlecowski said.
Settlecowski hopes to provide the same experience to Davis and other female researchers. Seeing other women working actively in the lab is crucial for women’s success, Taylor said.
“You feel like you don’t belong to a group if you don’t see anybody like you involved in that group,” Taylor said.
Davis said jumping into research as an undergraduate is helping her network with graduates and faculty members, strengthen her laboratory skills and learn to analyze data in ways that she may not learn in the classroom.