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List of contents
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.
About the author
Jeffrey A. Stratford is Associate Professor of Biology at Wilkes university in Pennsylvania. He is an ornithologists and tropical ecologist. He has authored or co-authored dozens of peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
Summary
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 includes rapidly expanding palm oil plantations, petroleum exploration, and humaninduced climate change. The proposed book will cover four broad areas: evolutionary history, life history and populations, ecosystem services and habitat, and conservation.Three to four chapters will cover each section and will include one or two case studies. For example, the conservation section will describe the SAVE project, which leads conservation efforts in Brazil.
Key selling features:
Summarizes the status of bird populations throughout the Neotropics
Identifies the threats to bird survival and forest health
Includes case studies of neotropical bird conservation programs
Provides both an historical and ecological perspectives of bird population and habitat health
Examines the role of climate change, urbanization and agriculture upon neotropical birds
