Prashant Ghimire
Echoes from the Prairie: Developing Conservation Solutions for Declining Grassland Birds in North America
Abstract
Grassland birds are declining faster than any other bird group in North America. With more than 80% of native grasslands converted to cropland and climate change intensifying, conservation demands proactive solutions. Yet most current strategies rely on population trends and ecological models, rarely incorporating evolutionary evidence that determines a species’ long-term capacity to persist.
This project brings an evolutionary perspective to grassland bird conservation. Using whole-genome data from eight species across North America, we will assess genetic diversity, local adaptation, and evolutionary potential. These analyses will help identify most vulnerable populations and those potentially more resilient, to future climate and land-use change.
Equally important, this research is built in partnership with conservation practitioners. We will work with stakeholders to integrate genomic insights with ecological and population data, co-developing practical tools that inform real-world decisions. By linking cutting-edge genomics with on-the-ground management, this project aims to advance durable, science-based strategies for conserving grassland birds and their ecosystems.
Mentors
Kristen Ruegg at Colorado State University and Sara J Oyler-McCance at USGS, Fort Collins
Undergraduate Education
B.S. Forestry (Distinction), Institute of Forestry, Pokhara | Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 2019
Graduate Education
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biological Sciences | Kent State University, Ohio, 2026
