Published: Jan. 29, 2020

Darwin's_finchDr. Sarah Knutie's research covers a broad range of areas of study including disease biology, host-microbe interactions, animal behavior and environmental change. Sarah gave a fascinating talk on her work in the Galápagos Islands, where she uses experimental field studies to determine the effect of an introduced parasitic fly Philornis downsi on endemic birds, how these birds defend themselves against P. downsi, and whether we can manage the parasites. She also presented recent work on the effects of urban living on the relationship between Darwin's finches and P. downsi. Her talk was titled: "Finch in a pinch: Effects of anthropogenic change on endemic birds in the Galápagos Islands"