Chelsea Connor
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Chelsea Connor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chelsea Connor |
| Alma mater | Midwestern State University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Herpetology |
Chelsea Connor is a Dominican herpetologist and birder. Her research concerns the interaction between native and introduced Anolis lizards in the Commonwealth of Dominica. While a student, she co-founded #BlackBirdersWeek. She is an advocate for Black people in the United States being out in nature, and feeling safer when they do so.
Connor grew up as a Black, queer woman in the Commonwealth of Dominica, part of the southeast Caribbean island group the Lesser Antilles.[1][2] She developed a love of birds from watching flocks of sugarbirds (Coereba flaveola) and seeing Sisserou parrots (Amazona imperialis) for the first time.[3]
Research
Connor studies the dietary overlap between invasive and native anoles (Anolis spp.) in Dominica. Her undergraduate project at Midwestern State University, Texas in the lab of Charles M. Watson, examined the diets of Anolis oculatus and invasive Anolis cristatellus; she found few prey species in common, indicating possible niche partitioning to avoid competition.[4] She continued working on anoles as a graduate student at Midwestern University in Texas.[5]