A5022769244- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Forest ecology and management
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Forest Management and Policy
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Archaeology and Natural History
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Vehicle emissions and performance
- Transportation Planning and Optimization
- Conservation Techniques and Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
2021-2025
National Institute of Amazonian Research
2017-2025
William & Mary
2015-2024
Williams (United States)
2015-2024
Louisiana State University
2017-2022
Humboldt State University
2011
Abstract How are rainforest birds faring in the Anthropocene? We use bird captures spanning > 35 years from 55 sites within a vast area of intact Amazonian to reveal reduced abundance terrestrial and near‐ground insectivores absence deforestation, edge effects or other direct anthropogenic landscape change. Because undisturbed forest includes far fewer than it did historically, today’s fragments second growth more impoverished shown by comparisons with modern ‘control’ sites. Any goals...
Warming from climate change is expected to reduce body size of endotherms, but studies temperate systems have produced equivocal results. Over four decades, we collected morphometric data on a nonmigratory understory bird community within Amazonian primary rainforest that experiencing increasingly extreme climate. All 77 species showed lower mean mass since the early 1980s—nearly half with 95% confidence. A third concomitantly increased wing length, driving decrease in mass:wing ratio for...
Variation in evolutionary rates among species is a defining characteristic of the tree life and may be an important predictor species' capacities to adapt rapid environmental change. It broadly assumed that generation length determinant microevolutionary rates, body size often used as proxy for length. However, has myriad biological correlates could affect independently from We leverage two large, collected datasets on recent morphological change birds (52 migratory breeding North America 77...
Abstract Approximately 20% of the Brazilian Amazon has now been deforested, and is currently experiencing highest rates deforestation in a decade, leading to large‐scale land‐use changes. Roads have consistently implicated as drivers ongoing may act corridors facilitate species invasions. Long‐term data, however, are necessary determine how ecological succession alters avian communities following whether established roads lead constant influx new species. We used data across nearly 40 years...
Insectivores of the tropical rainforest floor are consistently among most vulnerable birds to forest clearing and fragmentation. Several hypotheses attempt explain this pattern, including sensitivity extreme microclimates found near borders, particularly brighter warmer conditions. Importantly, "microclimate hypothesis" has additional implications for intact under global climate change that could be evaluated through direct assessment light temperature environment terrestrial insectivores....
Stable understory microclimates within undisturbed rainforests are often considered refugia against climate change. However, this assumption contrasts with emerging evidence of Neotropical bird population declines in intact rainforests. We assessed the vulnerability resident rainforest birds to climatic variability, focusing on dry season severity characterized by hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall. Analyzing 4264 individual captures over 27 years, we found that harsher Amazonian...
The rapid pace and potentially irreversible consequences of global change create an urgent need to predict the spatial responses biota for conservation better inform prioritization management terrestrial habitats prevent future extinctions. Here, we provide accessible entry point field guide near-future work building predictive species distribution models (SDMs) by synthesizing a technical framework proactive avian biodiversity. Our offers useful approach navigate challenges surrounding...
Summary Recent evidence indicates that insectivorous birds in shade coffee farms provide economically significant ecosystem services by reducing insect pests, which should encourage cultivation practices favouring and other wildlife. However, the provisioning of this service may be dependent on landscape composition movement patterns these mobile consumers. Very little information is currently available bird movements coffee-dominated landscapes. We examined roosting behaviour Black-throated...
The behavior of roosting birds has received little attention from ornithologists, despite its importance for understanding the complete avian circadian cycle. We examined spatial arrangement roosts in relation to diurnal home ranges declining Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) on breeding grounds coastal Virginia, USA. To our knowledge, this is first broad description ecology a North American migratory passerine during season. primary objective study was determine whether roost sites and use...
Although species lists from throughout Amazonia have become available, relatively complete inventories based on longterm work remain rare. Longitudinal comparisons at well-studied sites provide the best opportunities for describing communities and identifying changes in regional avifaunas. Within central Amazonia, no region has received as much consistent ornithological coverage terra firme forests north of Manaus, Brazil, Biological Dynamics Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP). Here we an...
Understanding the capacity for thermoregulation is critical predicting organismal vulnerability to climate change, especially in lowland tropical rainforests, where warming conditions combine with high humidity and limited elevational or latitudinal refugia. Here, I focused on nine species of ground‐foraging insectivorous birds genus Myrmoderus , Myrmornis Hylopezus Myrmothera Formicarius Sclerurus – sensitive forest specialists characterized by recently documented population declines both...
Recent long-term studies in protected areas have revealed the loss of biodiversity, yet ramifications for ecosystem health and resilience remain unknown. Here, we investigate how understory birds, lowest stratum forest, affects avian biomass functional diversity Amazon rainforest. Across approximately 30 years Biological Dynamics Forest Fragments Project, used a historical baseline communities to contrast today's primary forest with those modern disturbed habitat. We found that rainforest,...
ABSTRACT Researchers have long recognized that the spatial distribution of animals relates to habitat requirements. In birds, despite recent advances in tracking techniques, knowledge needs remains incomplete for most species. Using radio telemetry, we quantified relative space use 37 Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) males, captured over 2 years (2013, 2014) on their breeding grounds coastal Virginia. Following tracking, collected data prey availability (n = 370 plots) and structure 222...
Proposed mechanisms for the decline of terrestrial and understory insectivorous birds in tropics include a related subset that together has been termed ‘microclimate hypothesis’. One prediction from this hypothesis is sensitivity to bright light environments discourages dimly lit rainforest interior using edges, gaps, or disturbed forest. Using hierarchical Bayesian framework capture data across time space, we tested by first determining vulnerability based on differences within‐species...
Abstract Occupancy models estimate distributions of imperfectly detected species, but violations the closure assumption can bias results. However, researchers working with mobile animals may find it impossible to eliminate such violations. Here, we tested hypothesis that occupancy fit realistic sampling data generate unbiased estimates for an itinerant Wood Thrush ( Hylocichla mustelina ) population. In 2013 and 2014, tracked movements 41 breeding males. We modelled territory shift...
Abstract ∙ The Variegated Antpitta (Grallaria varia) is the largest member of terrestrial insectivores guild within its Amazonian range. Despite bird’s large size and loud vocalizations, however, basic aspects G. varia’s natural history remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted intensive tracking one individual in a nature reserve state Amazonas, Brazil, describing ‐ for first time with radio telemetry space use, movement patterns, roosting sites varia. Over course 50 days July...
Rainforest loss threatens terrestrial insectivorous birds throughout the world's tropics. Recent evidence suggests these are declining in undisturbed Amazonian rainforest, possibly due to climate change. Here, we first asked whether were exposed increasingly extreme ambient conditions using 38 years of data. We found long‐term trends temperature and precipitation at our study site, especially dry season, which was ~1.3°C hotter 21% drier 2019 than 1981. Second, test actively avoided hot...
Improving our understanding of migratory behaviors and connectivity is fundamental for identifying limiting factors drivers population decline. With advances in miniaturized tracking technology, we are now able to study these critical aspects avian ecology, which, secretive species, was once an exceptional challenge. Here, identify several unknown the behavior elusive Swainson’s Warbler (<em>Limnothlypis swainsonii</em>), by individuals from populations breeding Louisiana, U.S., wintering...
Abstract We integrated GPS and accelerometer data to examine habitat selection energy expenditure patterns across the diel cycle in Strix varia (Barred Owls), addressing a critical gap wildlife research that often overlooks activity during “inactive” phase. Owls Baton Rouge, Louisiana, selected forests with tall canopies open understories, particularly affluent neighborhoods, supporting “luxury effect” urban biodiversity. Nocturnal home ranges were larger (31.8 ha) compared diurnal (8.9 ha),...
Abstract Rainforest loss threatens terrestrial insectivorous birds throughout the world’s tropics. Recent evidence shows these to be declining in undisturbed Amazonian rainforest, possibly due climate change. Here, we first addressed whether insectivores were exposed change using 38 years of data. We found that has changed central Amazonia, especially dry season, which was ∼1.3°C hotter and 21% drier 2019 than 1981. Second, test actively avoided hot conditions, used field sensors identify...