Long-distance Dispersal in a Sedentary Species, Aphelocoma coerulescens (Florida Scrub-Jay), in Northern Florida

Karl E. Miller^1,*, Ralph Risch², and Jay Garcia³

¹Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32601. ²Florida Forest Service, Leesburg, FL 34788. ³Ocala National Forest, Umatilla, FL 32784. *Corresponding author.

Southeastern Naturalist,Volume 20, Issue 1 (2021): N37–N41

Abstract
Aphelocoma coerulescens (Florida Scrub-Jay) is a sedentary, non-migratory species thought to have poor dispersal ability. Few dispersal data are available for the species in atypical habitats or patchy landscapes, and no dispersal data exist from northern Florida. We opportunistically documented 14 dispersal records ≥11.9 km within and among populations in a 5-county area in north-central and northeast Florida. Maximum distance observed for males was 30.7 km, which is several-fold larger than the previous record for males. Maximum distance observed for females was 34.5 km. Our observations of infrequent but repeated movements across presumed metapopulation and genetic boundaries in northern Florida are intriguing and suggest these populations may be more connected than predicted.

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