Great-tailed grackles in a #population toward the northern edge of their #range (Sacramento/Woodland, California) were less #related to each other, which means that they #dispersed farther from where they hatched 🐣 than grackles in a population nearer the center of their range (Tempe, Arizona).
In particular, females in Arizona stay closer to home 🏡 than males, while females in California disperse farther away from home ✈️ like the males do. To keep pushing the edge of the geographic range further, both males and females must be present so they can breed in the new areas.
Now we know that there are 2 things that are different about the grackles on the edge: they are more #persistent and they disperse farther from where they hatched (especially the females)
Thanks to @DieterLukas for leading this article on grackle genetics and dispersal! #TheGrackleProject
📰 Press release: https://www.mpg.de/25179774/0811-evan-exploration-and-dispersal-150495-x
📎 Article: https://doi.org/10.24072/pcjournal.591