Joel Ralston

Past NE CASC Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Consortium Institution: 

University of Massachusetts

Affiliations: 

Department of Environmental Conservation

Education: 

B.S.: Oswego State University, Oswego, NY, 2006
Ph.D.: University at Albany, Albany, NY, 2011

Website: 

http://joelralston.weebly.com/

Experience: 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Massachusetts, 2014 to 2015
Visiting Assistant Professor, Utica College, 2011 to 2013
Research Fellow, New York State Museum, 2008 to 2011

Research Interests: 

I am broadly interested in the ecology, evolution, and biogeography of birds. More specifically, my research focuses on how historic and ongoing climate change alter species’ abiotic and biotic environments, and how these changes influence community structure and intraspecific genetic diversity. Currently I am working on a project to identify potential spruce-fir forest refugia where spruce-fir obligate bird species may persist into the future despite ongoing climate change.

 

Joel Ralston is now an Assistant Professor at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN.

Recent Publications

Click on the author's name to view all of their publications in the NE CASC Library.

Ralston, J., Deluca W. V., Feldman R. E., & King D. I. (2016).  Population trends influence species ability to track climate change. Global Change Biology. 23(4), 
Ralston, J., Deluca W. V., Feldman R. E., & King D. I. (2016).  Realized climate niche breadth varies with population trend and distribution in North American birds. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 25(10), 1173 - 1180.
Ralston, J., King D. I., Deluca W. V., Niemi G. J., Glennon M. J., Scarl J. C., et al. (2015).  Analysis of combined data sets yields trend estimates for vulnerable spruce-fir birds in northern United States. Biological Conservation. 187, 270 - 278.
Ralston, J., & Kirchman J. J. (2013).  Predicted range shifts in North American boreal forest birds and the effect of climate change on genetic diversity in blackpoll warblers (Setophaga striata). Conservation Genetics. 14, 543 - 555.