From Canada jays to ants:
Exploring human impacts on alpine communities in the Northeast, U.S.

Presented by Marielle A. Postava-Davignon, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Maine at Augusta

From high-flying Canada jays to soil-dwelling ants, how are human activities shaping the summit ecosystems of the Northeast? In popular recreation areas across Maine and New Hampshire, hand-feeding Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis) has enabled aggregations of these opportunistic nest predators, potentially threatening sensitive songbirds.

In this lecture, Postava-Davignon examines how human recreation and a warming climate impact these fragile alpine communities across diverse taxa, offering key insights into the future of Northeast mountain conservation.

At the University of Maine, Postava-Davignon teaches introductory courses for the Biology and Veterinary Technology programs. Her specialties include studying the effects of human interactions on Canada jay behavior.

Presented by the Springfield College Department of Biology/Chemistry, this event is free and open to the Springfield College community and the public.
Refreshments will be served at 3:30 PM

If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact Kellie Lavoie at klavoie2@springfield.edu to discuss your accessibility needs.