Neotropical ornithology: Reckoning with historical assumptions, removing systemic barriers, and reimagining the future

Ornithological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 125(1)

Published: Feb. 3, 2023

Abstract A major barrier to advancing ornithology is the systemic exclusion of professionals from Global South. recent special feature, Advances in Neotropical Ornithology, and a shortfalls analysis therein, unintentionally followed long-standing pattern highlighting individuals, knowledge, views North, while largely omitting perspectives people based within Neotropics. Here, we review current strengths opportunities practice ornithology. Further, discuss problems with assessing state through northern lens, including discovery narratives, incomplete (and biased) understanding history advances, promotion agendas that, currently popular north, may not fit needs realities research. We argue that future advances will critically depend on identifying addressing barriers hold back ornithologists who live work Neotropics: unreliable limited funding, international research leadership, restricted dissemination knowledge (e.g., language hegemony citation bias), logistical barriers. Moving forward, must examine acknowledge colonial roots our discipline, explicitly promote anti-colonial for research, training, conservation. invite colleagues beyond Neotropics join us creating new models governance establish priorities vigorous participation communities region. To include diversity perspectives, systemically address discrimination bias rooted socioeconomic class system, anti-Blackness, anti-Brownness, anti-Indigeneity, misogyny, homophobia, tokenism, ableism. Instead seeking individual excellence rewarding top-down institutions North South can collective leadership. In adopting these approaches, we, ornithologists, community researchers across academia building paradigms reconcile relationships transform science. Spanish Portuguese translations are available Supplementary Material.

Language: Английский

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How to count bird calls? Vocal activity indices may provide different insights into bird abundance and behaviour depending on species traits

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. 1071 - 1083

Published: May 10, 2024

Abstract Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become an important tool for surveying birds, and there is a growing demand approaches to obtain abundance behavioural information from PAM recordings. Changes in bird populations have been assessed by counting recorded calls calculating the vocal activity rate (VAR, i.e. number of per recording time). However, could be counted various ways depending on species traits, these call counts give us different insights abundance, behaviour and/or habitat use. Our study had two goals: (1) present evaluate new indices based counts, detection (DR, 1‐min recordings which presence target vocalization detected) maximum count minute (MAX, found recording); (2) conceptual framework showing how interpretations VAR, DR MAX depend index traits. For three Neotropical with distinct we calculated data 25 sites Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) that varied their degree anthropogenic disturbance. We moderate high correlations between higher temporal variability VAR compared MAX. also effect sizes disturbance indices. suggest might more reliable relative than whose calling exhibits cue may suitable estimating family or flock size gregarious birds. findings show potential usefulness developing generate ecological hypotheses assess changes behaviour.

Language: Английский

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Review of Conservation Challenges and Possible Solutions for Grassland Birds of the North American Great Plains

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 90, P. 165 - 185

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

North America's grassland birds remain in crisis despite decades of conservation efforts. This review provides an overview factors contributing to these declines, as well strategies and resources available a diversity stakeholders help conserve bird communities with emphasis on the Great Plains—a region global ecological significance habitat stronghold for birds. Grassland declines are driven by historical continuing threats across full annual cycle including loss, agriculture intensification, woody encroachment, disruption fire grazing regimes. More recently, energy development activities, use neonicotinoid pesticides, anthropogenic climate change have emerged additional threats. While numerous often synergistic, possibilities also diverse multifaceted. Land set-aside programs, incentives voluntary practices producers, improved environmental management utility companies, policy regulation can all contribute unique species. We suggest that future research should focus poorly studied aspects cycle, such overwinter survival use, migratory period, which remains completely unexplored many Filling knowledge gaps may facilitate more sophisticated population modeling identify limiting effectively guide investment conservation.

Language: Английский

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Community-engaged research enhances the scientific quality and societal impact of a long-term avian monitoring program in northwest Ecuador

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Introduction There has been a growing realization that more inclusive approach to research can provide both ethical and practical benefits. Long-term avian monitoring programs, indeed the academic community as whole, are still learning how best implement these methodologies effectively. Methods This paper provides information on twenty-plus-year effort conduct community-engaged in northwest Ecuador, with focus this impacted quality scope of project’s science broader societal impacts. We three case studies have proceeding for varying lengths time highlight various stages project development maturity. Results A improved our scientific by adding traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), technical capacity, intellectual contributions efforts. Community-engaged also enhanced breadth impacts, terms education, capacity building, conservation, particularly formation an reserve protects threatened species habitat. discuss systemic local challenges, potential strategies overcome challenges Discussion conclude improve merit impacts long-term monitoring, we advocate continued investment, efforts, careful reflection practices space.

Language: Английский

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Use of theories of human action in recent conservation research

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 39(2)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract Social sciences are increasingly recognized as useful for reorienting human action toward environmental conservation. Fully realizing the social sciences’ potential requires applying science methods to conservation challenges and drawing from building on theories across better understand how when actions can realize positive priorities. We conducted an in‐depth analysis of a bounded, systematically selected set peer‐reviewed articles investigate prevalence in research whether these represent richness literature related action. censused papers published 2023 Conservation Biology , Letters Biological assessed each paper's geographic scope, engagement, it investigated action, weather explicitly used underlying metatheory (i.e., ways understanding world one gains knowledge it). Results 533 showed that 32% incorporated 64% Twenty‐seven percent explicit theories. The theory planned behavior was most (17% papers). independent self prevalent; underlies focuses personal attributes, such values, shape intentional individual behavior. few metatheories dominant journals may indicate limited capacity build previous research, avoid redundant reinvention, unmask novel applications could reorient Human use might be broadened by changing attitudes importance research; incorporating education; asking reviewers comment usage mandating reporting; creating spaces scientists scholars; providing theorists with decision‐making power organizations; rewarding use; recognizing feedback loops among replacing colonial capitalistic approaches

Language: Английский

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Mercury in Neotropical birds: a synthesis and prospectus on 13 years of exposure data

Ecotoxicology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(8), P. 1096 - 1123

Published: Oct. 1, 2023

Environmental mercury (Hg) contamination of the global tropics outpaces our understanding its consequences for biodiversity. Knowledge gaps pollution exposure could obscure conservation threats in Neotropics: a region that supports over half world's species, but faces ongoing land-use change and Hg emission via artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Due to their distribution sensitivity pollution, birds provide valuable opportunity as bioindicators assess how accelerating emissions impact an ecosystem's ability support biodiversity, ultimately, health. We present largest database on Neotropical bird concentrations (n = 2316) establish baselines 322 species spanning nine countries across Central America, South West Indies. Patterns avian Neotropics broadly align with those temperate regions: consistent bioaccumulation functional groups high spatiotemporal variation. Bird occupying higher trophic positions aquatic habitats exhibited elevated have been previously associated reductions reproductive success. Notably, were four times at sites impacted by ASGM activities differed season certain niches. developed this synthesis collaborative research network, Tropical Research Avian Conservation Ecotoxicology (TRACE) Initiative, which exemplifies inclusive, equitable, international data-sharing. While findings signal urgent need sampling biases, mechanisms, tropical communities, TRACE Initiative provides meaningful framework achieve such goals. Ultimately, collective efforts inform local, scientific, government entities, including Parties United Nations Minamata Convention Mercury, we continue working together understand impacts biodiversity conservation, ecosystem function, public health tropics.

Language: Английский

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Understanding the conservation-genetics gap in Latin America: challenges and opportunities to integrate genetics into conservation practices

Frontiers in Genetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15

Published: July 8, 2024

Introduction: Integrating genetic data into conservation management decisions is a challenging task that requires strong partnerships between researchers and managers. Conservation in Latin America of crucial relevance worldwide given the high biodiversity levels presence hotspots this region. Methods: We conducted survey across to identify gaps opportunities aimed better understand managers’ points view how research could help practitioners achieve their goals, by implementing assessments effectively inform practices. distributed an online via four regional collaborating organizations 32 focal based 20 American countries. The target respondents were managers species or areas America. Results: collected total 468 answered questionnaires from 21 Most (44%) academic institution while non-academics mainly non-governmental institutions (30%) government agencies (25%). (65%) have performed used managed area species, either alone, partnership, contracting someone else using published results. For majority group, results relevant helping decisions. Respondents had not (35%) non-academic main barriers limited access funds, lab facilities, trained personnel design studies conduct work. Discussion: From findings, we describe current situation provide general diagnosis conservation-genetics gap gender gap, academic-practitioner co-development questions projects, nationality residency relation countries where they discuss co-create co-develop on practitioners’ needs. offer recommendations for overcoming integrate information actions, advance agendas fit needs realities highly heterogeneous, biodiverse

Language: Английский

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Decolonizing bird knowledge: More-than-Western bird–human relations

Ornithological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 126(1)

Published: Sept. 28, 2023

Abstract Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) or local (LEK) has only recently gained traction as “legitimate” science in Western academic discourse. Such approaches to inclusivity continue face institutional, sociocultural, and equity barriers being fully accepted discourse comparison Western-based frameworks. Postcolonial studies have attempted rectify this Western-domination characterizing diverse forms of bird–human relationships. However, the integration multiple cosmologies (worldviews) ontologies (realities) research management creates challenges that we discuss. We elucidate commonalities antithetical positions between Western-derived bird with TEK LEK both global contexts. combine ecological/ornithological key terms, theories, methods from social sciences integrate facilitate understanding. For example, follow a “theory synthesis” approach conceptual paper question epistemological ontological assumptions how acquire it question, “how do move decolonial (discussions acknowledgement) decolonization (action)?” This is product ongoing among researchers an ethno-ornithology lab based United Kingdom, who partner collaborators. The 3 case draw Southeast Asia, South America, decolonializing policy efforts New Zealand. analyzed these using postcolonial theoretical lens provide insights into scientists can embrace actively work decolonize ornithology theory practice. Further, discuss perceived core tenets inclusion community-based conservation projects Global South. Diversity, equity, inclusivity, justice relations were identified targets for systemic change within institutions scientists. By recognizing, discussing, embracing non-Western ontologies, non-Indigenous help influence ethno-ornithology, ornithology, through respectful, participatory, equitable, culturally considerate, “non-extractive” initiatives partnership groups.

Language: Английский

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Unveiling the geographical distribution and publication strategies of non-conventional literature data on bird breeding biology in Brazil

Ornithology Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 152 - 164

Published: March 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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¿Qué se ha investigado en aves en la ecorregión pampeana en el período 1980-2020 y con qué fines?

El Hornero, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(1), P. 35 - 53

Published: Aug. 15, 2024

En las últimas décadas, la ecorregión pampeana ha sufrido grandes cambios en el uso/cobertura del suelo producidos por intensificación agrícola. Esto sugiere necesidad de una revisión crítica sobre especies aves que se han estudiado y los enfoques para así identificar vacíos información. este trabajo, usé un enfoque bibliométrico, complementado con encuestas a investigadores actividad, consideré cantidad artículos publicados como indicador esfuerzo investigación. A través búsqueda Scopus recopilé período 1980-2020 distribución pampeana. Los resultados muestran investigaciones durante concentrado algunas comunes amplia, pero también problemas conservación. estudios básicos ido dejando lugar fines aplicados, más relacionados toma decisiones uso suelo, manejo El patrón publicaciones siguen agenda propia, determinada tradiciones grupos investigación modelos ecológicos comportamentales, lo conlleva sesgos taxonómicos temáticos. sentido, nota falta muchas pampeana, particular conservación Monjita Dominica (Xolmis dominicanus), temas ecotoxicología etnozoografía. Este indica ampliar interdisciplinarios.

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