Saturday, February 28, 2015

Hybridization of Blue-winged Warblers and Golden-winged Warblers


   The Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera, is warbler species that lives in North America, specifically in the northern states of the US and parts of southern Canada in the summer months. This bird then migrates to the northern countries of South America where it winters. The Golden-winged Warbler, due to its preference of early transitional habitat areas, has lost habitat to human development or humans lack of forest management. Its preferred habitat, which consist of early transitional species, is maturing and then is being protected by government agencies for conservation. However, the conservation of these areas leaves them untouched and allows them to mature into forests, which is not habitat suited for Golden-winged Warblers. This forces these birds to share this transitional area with the Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera. 
This habitat sharing has lead to hybridization and two new species have emerged from it, the Lawrence's Warbler and the Brewster's Warbler. This causes problems because genetic lines between the two warblers become crossed and do not remain pure. In order to protect the future generations of the Golden-winged Warblers lands must be set aside that will consistently be maintained for the preferential habitat of each bird species independently. This will ensure its longevity and prevent further hybridization between these two species.  
   I found this article very interesting. It reenforces my belief in habitat management as well as habitat conservation. These two warblers show that conservation and management are not separate entities but rather go hand in hand.  

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