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的日益破坏和破碎化，迫切需要了解这些变化对整个生态系统的影响。由于新热带候鸟的迁徙习性，它们特别容易受到这些变化的影响。对于这些物种来说，生存取决于这两个地区的合适栖息地。这种依赖表现在一个复杂的生态系统中，它包含了空间上分离的、通常在地貌上不同的栖息地。本次研讨会将汇集一群在候鸟生态学研究方面具有不同专业知识的国际科学家，但他们有一个共同的物种和栖息地保护目标。目标是根据鸟类的国际迁徙习性了解这一多样化群体的生态，从而维持鸟类的生物多样性，从而避免或预防濒危状态。拉丁美洲研究人员在这些物种的“越冬”栖息地进行研究，这对这次会议的成功至关重要。记录迁徙陆鸟的数量趋势，并确定这种变化的原因，都是艰巨的任务。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，这些科学家在他们的国家承担着采取保护行动的直接责任。在这次会议上，北美和拉丁美洲科学家之间的互动将提供一个不可能的视角，否则北美科学家很难理解拉丁美洲保护行动的社会经济现实。这次会议的拉丁美洲代表团对于了解新热带候鸟生态学和帮助建立一个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.