A5045109181- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- Migration and Labor Dynamics
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Global Health Care Issues
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
University of Alberta
2019-2024
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
2021-2023
Universidade de São Paulo
2007-2021
Estación Biológica de Doñana
2015-2020
University of California, Berkeley
2015-2016
Peregrine Power (United States)
2015-2016
The Peregrine Fund
2015-2016
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
2015
Summary Inference and estimates of abundance are critical for quantifying population dynamics impacts environmental change. Yet imperfect detection other phenomena that cause zero inflation can induce estimation error obscure ecological patterns. Recent statistical advances provide an increasingly diverse array analytical approaches estimating size to address these phenomena. We examine how in count data inform the choice method unmarked individuals not uniquely identified. review two...
Abstract Seed dispersal is one of the most studied plant–animal mutualisms. It has been proposed that many large-seeded plants from Neotropical forests was primarily conducted by extinct megafauna, and currently livestock. Parrots can transport large fruits using their beaks, but have overlooked as seed dispersers. We demonstrate three macaws ( Ara ararauna , A . glaucogularis severus ) are main dispersers motacú palm Attalea princeps which biomass-dominant tree in Bolivian Amazonian...
Abstract Mutually enhancing organisms can become reciprocal determinants of their distribution, abundance, and demography thus influence ecosystem structure dynamics. In addition to the prevailing view parrots (Psittaciformes) as plant antagonists, we assessed whether they act mutualists in dry tropical forest Bolivian inter‐Andean valleys, an particularly poor vertebrate frugivores other than (nine species). We hypothesised that if interactions between food plants evolved primarily or...
Abstract Parrots are largely considered plant antagonists as they usually destroy the seeds feed on. However, there is evidence that parrots may also act seed dispersers. We evaluated dual role of predators and dispersers Critically Endangered Parana pine ( Araucaria angustifolia ). Eight nine parrot species predated from 48% 526 pines surveyed. Observations commonest indicated 22.5% picked were dispersed by carrying them in their beaks. Another five seeds, at an estimated average distance...
Estimating abundance and population size is essential for many ecological conservation studies of parrots. Achieving these goals requires methods that yield reliable estimates, but parrot traits can make them difficult to detect, count, capture. We review established emergent sampling analytical used estimate size, focusing on their assumptions, requirements, limitations. Roost surveys are cost-effective if all roost locations in a region known stable, which uncommon. Capture–recapture...
While Psittaciformes (parrots and allies) are well recognized as highly-mobile seed predators, their role dispersers has been overlooked until very recently. It remains to be determined whether this is anecdotic or a key mutualism for some plant species. We recently found that the large nut-like seeds of two South American Araucaria tree species (A. araucana in Andean forests A. angustifolia Atlantic forests, weighing c. 3.5 7g, respectively) frequently dispersed, long distances, by parrots....
Abstract Anecdotic citations of food wasting have been described for parrots, but we lack a comprehensive knowledge about the extent this behaviour, and its ecological evolutionary implications. Here, combine experimental observational approaches to evaluate spatial, temporal, typological taxonomic by identify factors driving wasting, assess incidence two functions derived from such as facilitation other animal species secondary seed dispersal. We found that is widespread behaviour in all...
The extinction of ecological functions is increasingly considered a major component biodiversity loss, given its pervasive effects on ecosystems, and it may precede the disappearance species engaged. Dispersal many large-fruited (>4 cm diameter) plants thought to have been handicapped after megafauna in Late Pleistocene recent defaunation large mammals. We recorded seed dispersal behavior two macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus Anodorhynchus leari) three Neotropical biomes, totaling...
Abstract Estimating the population abundance of landbirds is a challenging task complicated by amount, type, and quality available data. Avian conservationists have relied on estimates from Partners in Flight (PIF), which primarily uses roadside data North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). However, BBS was not designed to estimate sizes. Therefore, we set out compare PIF approach with spatially explicit models incorporating off-road point-count surveys. We calculated for 81 landbird...
Westwood, A. R., N. K. Barker, S. Grant, Amos, F. Camfield, Cooper, V. Dénes, Jean-Gagnon, L. McBlane, Schmiegelow, J. I. Simpson, M. Slattery, D. H. Sleep, Sliwa, Wells, and Whitaker. 2020. Toward actionable, coproduced research on boreal birds focused building respectful partnerships. Avian Conservation Ecology 15(1):26. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01589-150126
Abstract To recover species at risk, it is necessary to identify habitat critical their recovery. Challenges for with large ranges (thousands of square kilometres) include delineating management unit boundaries within which use differs from other units, along assessing any differences among units in amounts and threats over time. We developed a reproducible framework support identification wide-ranging risk. The (i) reviews distribution life history; (ii) delineates across the range; (iii)...
Parrots stand out among birds because of their poor conservation status and the lack available information on population sizes trends. Estimating parrot abundance is complicated by high mobility, gregariousness, patchy distributions, rarity many species. Roadside car surveys can be useful to cover large areas increase probability detecting spatially aggregated species or those occurring at very low densities. However, such may biased due inability handle differences in detectability...
Abstract Aim Most large‐scale species distribution models assume spatially constant habitat selection throughout a species' geographic range. However, there is evidence this assumption may not be valid for number of boreal bird species, which could lead to biased predictions density and in range‐wide models. Our goal was test quantify differential (DHS) songbirds among regions the Canadian forest. Location Northern Alberta, western Ontario southern Quebec, Canada. Methods We used...
Summary Declines in raptor populations often result from the transformation of natural habitats to anthropogenic land uses, but rate population change can vary greatly among species. associated with have been linked loss foraging habitat, prey resources and nest sites due expanding cultivation, overgrazing disturbance nests persecution by humans. We combined extensive road‐survey counts raptors, large‐scale GIS data sets a single‐visit conditional likelihood N ‐mixture model generate...
Abstract BACKGROUND Invasive Africanized honey bees potentially compete with cavity‐nesting birds in South America. However, the impacts of this competition and its conservation consequences to threatened species are poorly known. We quantified presence these assessed their for cliff cavities used by nesting Lear's macaws Anodorhynchus leari , a globally endangered parrot endemic Caatinga biome Brazil. treated beehives permethrin shooting them crossbow bolt that distributed compound upon...
Abstract Estimating distribution and abundance of species depends on the probability at which individuals are detected. Butterflies conservation interest worldwide, but data collected with Pollard walks—the standard for national monitoring schemes—are often analyzed assuming that changes in detectability negligible within recommended sampling criteria. The implications this practice remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated effects conditions butterfly counts from walks using Arctic...
The currently accepted albatross taxonomy, based on characters of external morphology, plumage patterns, tail shape, bill size and coloration, organization the plates bill, and, more recently, molecular data such as cytochrome-b gene sequences, resulted in a division family Diomedeidae into four genera: Diomedea, comprising great albatrosses; Phoebastria, North Pacific Thalassarche, mollymawks; Phoebetria, sooty mollymawks. However, there are only few, old studies osteology, which focused...
Knowledge about the population size and trends of common bird species is crucial for setting conservation priorities management actions. Multi-species large-scale monitoring schemes have often provided such estimates relying on extrapolation relative abundances in particular habitats to areas. Here we show an alternative inference-rich predictive models, proposing methods deal with caveats estimations habitat-specialist species, reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus Acrocephalus...
Abstract To recover species at risk, it is necessary to identify habitat critical their recovery. Challenges for with large ranges (thousands of square kilometres) include delineating management unit boundaries within which use differs from other units, along assessing amounts and threats over time. We developed a reproducible framework support the identification wide-ranging risk. The (i) reviews distribution life history; (ii) delineates units across range; (iii) evaluates compares current...