Berkeley: Ecological Effects of Introduced Turkeys in Sonoma Oak Woodlands

Ecological Effects of Introduced Turkeys in Sonoma Oak Woodlands

Daniel Gluesenkamp
Berkeley: November 16

Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), native to other parts of North America, never successfully colonized California, so their recent expansion creates tantalizing questions and research opportunities. In 2002 Daniel Gluesenkamp initiated the first assessment of turkeys in the state with the aim of evaluating their effect on ground-dwelling invertebrates and vegetation. In addition to offering an overview of the history and biology of California’s introduced turkeys, he’ll describe research at Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Bouverie Preserve in Sonoma and share preliminary results that improve our understanding of the species’ ecology.


Daniel, who holds a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, directs habitat protection and restoration for Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), and leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of conservation and restoration projects at ACR preserves. He is also president of the California Invasive Plant Council, a statewide organization that works to protect the state’s wildlands from invasive plants.