Levi Souza

PhD Graduate Student Researcher

LeviEducation
Ph.D in Ecology, expected 2013, University of California, Davis, CA

B.S. UC Davis

 

 

Current Project

Magpie

The Yellow-billed Magpie’s range is limited to the Central Valley and Southern Coast Ranges of California.  This California endemic (meaning found only in California) bird species has suffered dramatic mortality from West Nile virus (WNV); since 2004 over 12,000 dead magpies have been reported to the California Department of Health Services WNV Dead Bird Surveillance Program.  The Yellow-billed Magpie has consistently had the highest proportion of WNV-positive carcasses of all California native bird species. 

Through collaborations with members of the Yellow-billed Magpie Working Group, the public through Magpie Monitors (www.magpiemonitor.org), CDFG, PRBO Conservation Science, The Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and other agencies, organizations and ornithologists, we are implementing studies to estimate and track population abundance and seasonal habitat-use patterns in 2007 and 2008, and examine loss of genetic diversity post-WNV establishment. 

Research Experience:

Ph.D. research on Yellow-billed Magpies, Wildlife and Ecology Unit, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis. Current Project, with Scott Crosbie: Status of the Yellow-billed Magpie

Research Interests