Celebrating a Major Conservation Milestone

A new study about the long-term impact of Mosaic’s Florida Scrub-Jay (FSJ) mitigation program has been published in Current Biology—a leading scientific journal. Even more exciting, our FSJ program is featured on the journal’s cover—a testament to the work we’ve done over the past two decades.

This achievement is the result of years of collaboration between Mosaic, leading conservation scientists, and government agencies. The study, led by Michigan State University conservation geneticists Dr. Tyler Linderoth and Dr. Sarah Fitzpatrick, in partnership with Mosaic’s Lead Ecologist Dr. Raoul Boughton and Flatwoods Consulting’s Dr. Lauren Deaner, provides critical insights into how our conservation efforts have impacted the FSJ population.

A Conservation Success Story—With Lessons for the Future

Since 2003, Mosaic has been working to protect the FSJ, a species threatened by habitat loss. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the late Dr. Reed Bowman, we developed a plan to translocate jays from fragmented habitats affected by mining to a large, newly restored habitat area. Over the past two decades, we have carefully monitored this translocated population to understand the long-term effects on their survival, reproduction, and genetic diversity.

The Current Biology study confirms that these translocations successfully increased FSJ population numbers, demonstrating that our efforts have helped stabilize and grow the population. However, the research also revealed an important challenge: while numbers have increased, genetic diversity has declined due to a small number of individual birds contributing more offspring than others. This knowledge is critical because it informs future conservation strategies—not just for FSJs, but for other species facing similar challenges. “This study not only highlights the progress we’ve made but also informs future strategies to further enhance the genetic health of translocated populations,” said Dr. Raoul Boughton. “It’s an example of how responsible land management can go hand-in-hand with conservation, benefiting biodiversity while allowing for sustainable development.”

Why This Matters

The Florida Scrub-Jay relies on well-managed oak scrub habitat to survive. Without periodic controlled burns and habitat restoration, their environment becomes overgrown, making it unsuitable for breeding and survival. Mosaic’s investment in habitat restoration has proven to be essential for the success of the FSJ population, and our efforts are now serving as a model for conservation programs worldwide.

This study is particularly unique because it tracked nearly every individual FSJ in the study area over two decades—an achievement that very few conservation projects can claim. The ability to pair this long-term monitoring data with advanced genetic analysis makes this one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

Looking Ahead: A Model for Conservation

The findings from this study are already shaping the future of FSJ conservation. Based on these insights, conservationists can now implement strategies to improve genetic diversity, ensuring that populations remain strong for generations to come. The research also reinforces the importance of habitat restoration and active land management in protecting threatened species.
For Mosaic, this recognition is a testament to the dedication of our environmental teams and the company’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. Our work doesn’t stop here—this study will continue to guide our conservation efforts and inspire new approaches to balancing responsible resource use with wildlife protection.

Want to learn more? You can read the full study in Current Biology Translocations spur population growth but fail to prevent genetic erosion in imperiled Florida Scrub-Jays: Current Biology