Ecology of Intercontinental Avian Migrants

长途迁徙是人类生活中不可或缺的一部分 许多动物的历史，包括超过一半的北 美国陆鸟 与移民相关的死亡率是 大量的，一岁的移民遭受更大的死亡率比 成年个体。 这个研究项目比较了 一岁和成年新热带陆鸟迁徙的生态学， 研究了年龄对移民如何满足 移民的能源需求。 许多适应性改变 与长距离迁徙相关的进化 当鸟类必须跨越地理障碍时，这一点至关重要。 所以 研究新热带区经停生态学的最佳地点和时间 陆鸟迁徙是在它们穿越 墨西哥湾 北方墨西哥湾沿岸沿着的研究地点 提供了一个独特的机会， 迁徙物种 栖息地的丧失是最严重的生态问题之一， 与全球环境变化有关的问题。 程度 这些大规模影响的发生时间 生态影响是很难衡量的，除非我们可以 评估一个物种生命周期的每个阶段 摩尔博士的研究 进入关键的中途停留阶段， 高阶生态动力学的物种水平效应。 新热带陆鸟迁徙种群数量的下降是一个 严重的保护问题;一个与栖息地丧失有关的问题 越冬地和森林繁殖栖息地的破碎化。 移民人口的地位也受到 合适的中途停留栖息地的可用性以及 移民途中的事件。 因此，相关因素 在任何分析中， 人口变化和发展综合 新热带陆鸟迁徙的保护"战略"。 的 目前的研究项目结合了观测和实验 研究比较一岁鸟和成年鸟的中途停留生物学 并应可衡量地有助于保护 新热带陆鸟迁徙。

Long-distance migration is an integral part of the life history of many animals, including over half of all North American landbirds. The mortality associated with migration is substantial, and yearling migrants suffer greater mortality than adult individuals. This research project compares the behavioral ecology of yearling and adult Neotropical landbird migrants and examines the consequences of age in relation to how migrants meet the energy demands of migration. Many of the adaptations that have evolved in association with long-distance migration are critical when birds must cross geographic barriers. Hence, the best place and time to study the stopover ecology of Neotropical landbird migrants is immediately before or after they cross the Gulf of Mexico. Study sites along the northern Gulf coast provide a unique opportunity to work with populations of migratory species. Habitat loss is one of the most critical ecological problems associated with global environmental change. The degree and timing of these large-scale effects can have significant ecological repercussions that are hard to measure unless one can assess each stage of a species' life cycle. Dr Moore's research into the critical stopover stage promises new insight into species-level effects of higher-order ecological dynamics. Decline in populations of Neotropical landbird migrants is a serious conservation problem; one linked to habitat loss on the wintering grounds and fragmentation of forested breeding habitat. The status of migrant populations is also affected by the availability of suitable stopover habitat and the response of migrants to en route events. Consequently, factors associated with the stopover biology of migrants must figure in any analysis of population change and in the development of a comprehensive conservation "strategy" for Neotropical landbird migrants. The current research project combines observational and experimental studies to compare stopover biology of yearling and adult birds and should contribute measurably to the conservation of Neotropical landbird migrants.