IRES Track I: Understanding Climate, Renewable Energy, and Oceanic Condition Effects on Intercontinental Connections of Birds of Prey

博伊西州立大学的猛禽研究中心（RRC）和山间鸟类观测站（IBO）是位于爱达荷州博伊西的全球公认的猛禽研究中心的一部分。博伊西也是全国唯一的猛禽生物学硕士研究生课程的所在地。我们的IRES项目利用这一专业知识与全球公认的国际合作伙伴，位于西班牙塔里法的Foundacion Migres，合作进行变革性研究，重点关注气候变化，海洋条件，风力和可再生能源对迁徙猛禽的潜在影响。Migres研究校园位于世界上最重要的猛禽飞行路线上，位于欧洲和非洲之间的伊比利亚半岛上的直布罗陀海峡。这是可再生能源（风能和太阳能）开发和研究的一个重要领域，重点是候鸟的洲际联系和解决野生动物与可再生能源之间的冲突。我们的IRES计划利用RRC，IBO和Migres合作伙伴关系为美国研究生和本科生提供为期8周的国际学生研究经验，让学生参与结构化的专业发展和科学交流，并让学生了解国外的多元文化研究环境，帮助他们为全球劳动力做好准备。我们的国际合作研究重点是天气，风，海洋条件和风能/太阳能发展对猛禽迁徙和种群动态的影响。受气候和海洋条件变化的影响，天气和风况可能会显著影响鸟类开始迁徙的决定、迁徙的路线和速度以及迁徙期间的生存。这些因素特别影响大型猛禽和其他翱翔的鸟类。我们的重点是迁移猛禽穿越直布罗陀海峡在非洲猛禽物种的迁移和范围扩大在一个地区，连接鸟类从欧洲和非洲大陆。由于气候变化和能源生产需求的增加，需要缓解人为和生物因素与野生动物之间的冲突。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Boise State University’s Raptor Research Center (RRC) and Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) constitute part of a globally recognized hub of raptor research located in Boise, Idaho. Boise is also home to the nation’s only MS graduate program in Raptor Biology. Our IRES project leverages this expertise with that of a globally recognized international partner, Foundacion Migres, located in Tarifa, Spain, to collaborate on transformative research focused on potential effects of a changing climate, oceanographic conditions, wind dynamics, and renewable energy on migratory raptors. The Migres research campus is uniquely located in the world’s most important flyway for raptors, on the Iberian Peninsula between Europe and Africa at the strait of Gibraltar. This is an important area for renewable (wind and solar) energy development and research, and focus is on intercontinental connections of migrating birds and resolving conflicts between wildlife and renewable energy. Our IRES program leverages the RRC, IBO and Migres partnership to deliver 8-week, international student research experiences for U.S. graduate and undergraduate students, engage students in structured professional development and scientific communication, and allow students to gain an understanding of a multicultural research environment abroad to help prepare them for the global workforce. Our collaborative international research focuses on effects of weather, wind, oceanographic conditions and wind/solar energy development on migration and population dynamics of birds of prey. Weather and wind conditions, influenced by changing climate and oceanographic conditions, may significantly affect a bird’s decision to initiate migration, the course and pace of migration, and survival during migration. These factors especially affect large raptors and other soaring birds. We focus on migrating raptors crossing the Strait of Gibraltar during migration and range expansion of African raptor species in a region that connects birds from the European and African continents. Because of a changing climate and increased need for energy production, there is need for mitigating conflicts arising among anthropogenic and biological factors and wildlife.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.