Paul Aigner

Paul Aigner

Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
M.S. 1996, Forestry, Northern Arizona University
B.S. Resource Management, 1992, University of California, Berkeley

Research Interests: Pollinators are often assumed to be important agents of natural selection, largely responsible for the diversification of angiosperms. Specialization by plants for pollination by particular animal taxa may drive floral differentiation, reproductive isolation, and speciation. I am studying whether different pollinator assemblages across the range of the Dudleya caespitosaspecies complex in Southern California result in divergent selection on floral traits. Do plants become specialized for different pollinators in different populations? If plants remain generalized, can the net selective effect of different suites of pollinators cause floral diversification? In particular, I am focussing on isolated populations on the Channel Islands, where I expect pollination patterns to be unique compared to the mainland.

PUBLICATIONS:

Morrison, M. L., Aigner, P. A., Nordstrom, L. A., and L. S. Hall. 1999. Habitat characteristics of sympatric Gilbert's and western skinks. Herpetological Review 30:18-20.

Aigner, P. A., Block, W. M., and M. L. Morrison. 1998. Effect of firewood harvesting on birds in a California oak-pine woodland. Journal of Wildlife Management 62:485-496.

Aigner, P. A., Block, W. M., and M. L. Morrison. 1997. Design recommendations for point counts of birds in California oak-pine woodlands: power, sample size, and count stations versus visits. Proceedings of the symposium on oak woodlands: ecology, management, and urban interface issues. US Forest Service General Technical Report, PSW-GTR-160, Albany, CA.

Aigner, P. A., Tecklin, J., and C. E. Koehler. 1995. Probable breeding population of the Black Rail in Yuba County. Western Birds 26:157-160.

Morrison, M. L., Keuhler, C. M., Scott, T. A., Lieberman, A. A., Everett, W. T., Phillips, R. B., Koehler, C. E., Aigner, P. A., Winchell, C., and T. Burr. 1995. San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike: recovery plan for an endangered species. Pp. 293-295 in Shrikes (Laniidae) of the world: biology and conservation (R. Yosef and F. E. Lohrer, eds.). Proceedings of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology 6(1).

Aigner, P. A., Morrison, M. L., Hall, L. S., and W. M. Block. 1994. Great Horned Owl food habits at Mono Lake, California. Southwestern Naturalist 39:286-288.