Galápagos Birds and the Study of Evolution with Dr Jaime Chaves 3-12-26
Greetings AlI NSAS Members, Family & Friends:
You don’t want to miss next Thursday’s presentation by Dr. Jaime Chaves entitled, Birds and the Study of Evolution! Dr. Chavez is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biology from San Francisco State.
Please Come Join us next Thursday for our March Speaker Series
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Napa Valley Lutheran Church
Our Speaker Series is in-person and via zoom for those viewing from afar, or unable to travel in the evening (See Zoom connection details below.)
About the Program: Galápagos Birds and the Study of Evolution
Dr. Chaves’s research centers on understanding how biodiversity is generated and maintained in the Neotropics, with a particular emphasis on the connection between molecular variation and phenotypic traits. He has applied phylogenetic comparative methods and integrated data from fieldwork and museum collections to investigate evolutionary histories of organisms, addressing fundamental questions in biodiversity. By combining molecular genetics with field biology, his presentation will explore evolutionary processes at multiple levels: from population divergence and speciation in action, to species-level phylogeography and systematics. Dr. Chaves’s projects are grounded in international, multidisciplinary collaborations that actively engage local students and communities. While he employs molecular techniques across a variety of taxa, he is especially drawn to birds for their remarkable diversity and life histories. The majority of his work focuses on species on the Galápagos Islands.
About the Presenter: Dr Jaime Chaves is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biology at San Francisco State University whose work is rooted in a fascination with how life diversifies and adapts. His research integrates genomics and field ecology to study adaptation and diversification in birds, with a particular focus on Galápagos species, including Darwin’s finches. His primary research goal is to better understand evolutionary processes and inform conservation. Jaime is an active birdwatcher who participates in community building through nature-focused activities (Christmas Bird Count, Big Days) and through his involvement with the California Academy of Sciences.
Zoom Link:
Napa Solano Audubon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84471416566?pwd=5ONK5AGZ089RtaUslia4XDB7gy0pkL.1
Meeting ID: 844 7141 6566
Passcode: 195584
One tap mobile
+16694449171,,84471416566#,,,,*195584# US
+16699009128,,84471416566#,,,,*195584# US (San Jose)
Zoom Tips: If you click on the link and are not able to join the Zoom Meeting, first try copying and pasting the entire link into your web browser and then hit the return key. If the browser asks for a passcode it is 964696. If this doesn’t work, please call Mark at (707) 246-2795 and we will do our best to help you get connected.
Happy Birding,
Mark