Summary

Region:

North America (U.S. and Canada), Central America
(Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica), South America (Ecuador)

This area of research seeks to determine the factors responsible for population declines of Neotropical songbirds that migrate between Central America, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. Despite efforts, researchers have been unable to identify discrete breeding and wintering populations of individual species. This has made relating population declines with likely causes, such as land use changes, extremely difficult. Using molecular genetic techniques (utilizing DNA obtained from a single feather from a bird), CTR researchers have been able to identify the breeding and wintering populations of songbirds. These findings will provide conservation biologists with the means of correlating habitat changes (e.g., urbanization, deforestation, etc.) with the declining populations. In order to integrate our genetic data with demographic data we are collaborating with two California NGOs, the Institute for Bird Populations and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory.

In addition, this research has been the focus of the SFSU Minority International Research Training program in Mexico. Working with U. of Guadalajara in the Manantlan Reserve, the MIRT program offers international field training experiences to young scientists from underrepresented groups. The 1999 MIRT program included a Summer Workshop in Avian Behavioral Ecology and Genetics for ten qualified students.