Long-Term Research on Avian Conservation Ecology in the Age of Global Change and Citizen Science

About this Research Topic

Background

Long-term bird monitoring, ecological research and conservation projects that integrate community involvement, citizen science, capacity-building, outreach, environmental education and local job creation provide some of the best examples of biodiversity monitoring and conservation programs. The goal of this research topic is to provide a global overview and exemplary case studies of long-term (10+ years) bird monitoring, ecological research and conservation projects focused on the effects of global change on tropical bird communities.

Long-term and locally based biodiversity monitoring programs are essential for understanding and mitigating the effects of global change on tropical biodiversity while providing capacity-building, environmental education and public outreach. However, these programs are lacking in most tropical countries that harbor most of the world’s biodiversity. Birds are the best-known major group of organisms, comprise excellent environmental indicators, are relatively easy to monitor, and, as charismatic flagship species, are met with enthusiasm and interest by people worldwide.

Bird monitoring programs using mist nets and bird banding (ringing) are especially valuable, as these safe and well-established techniques enable the use of capture-mark-recapture (CMR) models to measure population change and other demographic parameters, while making it possible to obtain blood and feather samples for genetic and isotopic analyses, examine the birds for parasites and pathogens, and study home range size, habitat use and movement ecology of the birds by tracking them with geolocators, radio or satellite transmitters. Equally important for conservation, the ability to capture and release birds makes it possible to conduct hands-on ornithological training, environmental education, awareness raising and community outreach activities with students, conservationists, villagers, decision-makers, journalists, and other local people. Bird banding, tracking and nest monitoring programs provide local jobs for research assistants, who often go on to productive careers in conservation, education, research, or ecotourism. The costs involved are relatively modest and most of the money is spent locally on salaries, room, board, and services. Long-term bird banding and ornithological research stations often provide the nuclei, infrastructure, and staff for monitoring, education, and conservation programs focused on other taxa.

Bird monitoring and ecological research programs that integrate conservation, ecological research, environmental education, capacity-building, and income generation are cost-effective tools to achieve the goals of community-based biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction in the developing world. Such locally based and long-term bird monitoring programs should be encouraged, established, and supported throughout the tropics.

For this special issue, we will especially solicit long-term (10+ years) research papers that:

• Take place in understudied regions and work with underserved communities,
• Focus on the impacts of climate change, infectious diseases and other emerging threats,
• Investigate particularly susceptible avian taxa and the reasons for their declines,
• Address the ecological implications of these declines, including reductions in scavenging, seed dispersal, pollination, predation, nutrient deposition and ecosystem engineering,
• Study bird populations with banding, nest monitoring or geolocator/radio/satellite-tracking, and
• Provide examples of best practice in integrating avian conservation and ecology research with community-based conservation, citizen science, capacity-building, and environmental education.

Keywords: Biodiversity Monitoring, Birds, Capacity-building, Climate Change, CMR, Community Science, Conservation Biology, Environmental Education, LTER, Ornithology, Tropical Biology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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