The Ecological, Genetic, and Disease Impacts of Translocations on Florida Scrub-jays (Aphelocoma Coerulescens) Impacted by Habitat Loss

The objectives of this project are to translocate Florida scrub-jays (FSJs) annually in Fall 2025 and 2026 from abundant populations in South Brevard to areas with low abundance and available habitat, supported by population viability analyses and the FSJ recovery coordinator. This includes evaluating potential recipient conservation lands, banding and collecting genetic and disease data from translocated birds, and monitoring their success as breeders. Additionally, the project aims to assess the genetic compatibility of translocated FSJs using existing genomic datasets to investigate kinship, genetic variation, and immunogenetic compatibility, which may impact translocation success. Finally, the project will determine the impact of pathogenic infections on translocated FSJs and how translocations affect pathogen transmission dynamics, including creating a pathogen database, characterizing pathogen presence and diversity, and testing associations between infections and genetic variation.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $270,872.00
• Contract Numbers:

  BED26 977-22

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Managing Organizations:

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Research Center
  605 Suwannee Street MS-30
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32399-0450
• Project Managers:

  Lyon, Casey

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Central Florida, Orlando

  12443 Research Parkway, Suite 207
  Orlando, FL  United States  32826-
• Principal Investigators:

  Fitak, Robert

• Start Date: 20250623
• Expected Completion Date: 20270531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Data Access and Exchanges
• USDOT Program: Innovative Safety, Resiliency, and All-Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery Research Demonstrations (SRER)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Birds; Conservation; Data collection; Endangered species; Genetics; Habitat
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01958716
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Florida Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: BED26 977-22
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 24 2025 9:55AM