Aaron D. Clark
My dissertation research falls under the broad topic of the
evolution of bird migration, and mainly focuses on the how questions of
evolution; which is to say that I study the underlying mechanisms of the
population level transition from migratory to non-migratory and vice-versa. My study system is the
bird genus Zonotrichia, and I
focus on Z. leucophrys, the
white-crowned sparrow, in North America, and also on Z. capensis, the rufous-collared sparrow in Central and South
America. These two species are uniquely well suited to studies of migration
evolution due to the existence of both migrant and resident populations within
both species.
My professional goals are broader, and generally fall within
the fields of biological conservation and science education. Through my
research I hope to further our scientific understanding of the biological
systems and processes that support and inspire humanity. Of equal importance to
me is helping people understand and recognize the value and necessity of taking
care of the ecosystem(s) of which we are an increasingly large part. Currently
I work toward these goals through my dissertation research, teaching at the University
of Washington, and taking advantage of outreach opportunities that allow me to
talk about my work and the natural world, especially at local schools.
Beyond my ongoing graduate research I am involved in a Costa
Rican forest restoration and research project that my mother, Sara Clark, began
in 2002. This project is a long-term experiment that examines the process and
feasibility of restoring forest habitat in an ecologically degraded pastureland.
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