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The growth of studies from the Neotropics stands in stark contrast with the threats facing neotropical birds. Forest fragmentation, and destructive projects, such as dams, will obliterate large tracts of tropical habitat. New threats to birds include rapidly expanding palm oil plantations, petroleum exploration, and human-induced climate change. This book covers four broad areas: evolutionary history, life history and populations, ecosystem services and habitat, and conservation. Three to four chapters cover each section and include one or two case studies. For example, the conservation section describes the SAVE project, which leads conservation efforts in Brazil.
Introduction. Evolution. Historical biogeography. Largescale spatial distribution of diversity. Historical biogeography of Andean bird. Phylogeny and Evolution of Antbirds. Life History and Populations. Life histories of Neotropical Birds. Phenology/Molt. Demography. Diseases and parasites of Neotropical birds. Movement and dispersal. Importance of tropics for temperate migrants. Austral migrants in the tropics. Longterm data sets. Ecosystem Services and Habitat Relationships. Ecosystem services of Neotropicals. Birds of Nonforested Amazonian Habitats. Birds of the Mata Atlantica. Role of light and heat in habitat use. Insectivory. Pollination. Frugivory. Ant Following Birds. Conservation and Threats. Threats to Neotropical birds. Agriculture. Urbanization. Climate change. Conservation projects: A case study: Brazil's SAVE. Human dimensions of avian diversity in the tropics.
Jeffrey A. Stratford is Associate Professor of Biology at Wilkes university in Pennsylvania. He is an ornithologist and tropical ecologist. He has authored or co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
