Symposium on Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds; December 7-9, 1990; Woods Hole, MA

随着西半球热带和温带地区森林遭到越来越多的破坏和碎片化，迫切需要了解这些变化对整个生态系统的影响。由于迁徙习性，新热带候鸟特别容易受到这些变化的影响。对于这些物种来说，生存取决于两个地区都有合适的栖息地。这种依赖表现在一个复杂的生态中，该生态包含了空间上分开的、往往是地貌上不同的栖息地。这次研讨会将汇聚一群在候鸟生态研究方面拥有不同专业知识的国际科学家，他们在物种和栖息地保护方面有着共同的目标。其目标是根据这一多样化群体的国际迁徙习惯来了解它们的生态，以便维持鸟类的生物多样性，从而避免或阻止濒危状态。这次会议成功的关键是拉丁美洲研究人员的参与，他们在这些物种的“越冬”栖息地进行研究。记录候鸟的种群趋势，并确定这种变化的原因，都是一项艰巨的任务。然而，如果没有拉丁美洲科学家的参与，这些知识的价值将是有限的，这些科学家承担着在他们国家采取保护行动的直接责任。北美和拉丁美洲科学家在这次会议上的互动将提供一个视角，否则是不可能的，北美科学家很难理解拉丁美洲保护行动的社会经济现实。参加本次会议的拉丁美洲代表团对于了解新热带候鸟生态以及帮助制定现实的国际保护议程至关重要。

With the increasing destruction and fragmentation of forests in both the tropical and temperate regions of the western hemisphere, the need to understand the impact of these changes on the total ecosystem is urgent. Neotropical migrant landbirds are particularly susceptible to these alterations because of their migratory habits. For these species, survival depends on suitable habitat in both regions. This dependence is manifested in a complex ecology that incorporates spatially separate and often physiognomically different habitats. This symposium will bring together an international group of scientists with diverse expertise in research on migrant landbird ecology, but who have a common goal of species and habitat conservation. The goal is to understand the ecology of this diverse group in light of their international migratory habits, so that avian biodiversity can be maintained and so endangered status can be averted or forestalled. Essential to the success of this meeting will be participation by Latin American researchers who study these species in their "wintering" habitats. Documenting population trends in migrant landbirds, and establishing causes of such change, are both formidable tasks. However, this knowledge will be of limited value without participation of Latin American scientists who bear the direct responsibility of taking conservation action in their countries. Interaction between North and Latin American scientists at this conference will provide a perspective that otherwise would not be possible, it is difficult for North American scientists to appreciate the socioeconomic realities of conservation action in Latin America. Latin American contingent at this meeting is essential for understanding of neotropical migrant landbird ecology, and in helping to establish a realistic international conservation agenda.