Ecological monitoring of vertebrate demography

Purpose: Increase understanding of population ecology of vertebrates and climatic anomalies in the lowland tropics by establishing long-term nest box breeding population of endemic parrot species.

Background: Parrots occur throughout the Tropics. They are the most threatened taxonomic group of birds in the world owing to habitat destruction, illegal capture of wild birds for the international pet trade and life history traits that make them especially susceptible to extinction. Because many threatened parrot species are abundant in captivity, major efforts are underway to attempt to re-introduce captive birds in order to replenish wild populations. However, to date these efforts have been met with mixed

success, in part because little is known about parrot demography and how parrots integrate into adult societies. Furthermore, there is currently much speculation about how even common tropical organisms will react to changing global climate scenarios in the future.

Methods: This project examines social influences on development in the Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus passerines), a parrot species endemic to Venezuela. Although not in immediate danger, the species is fast becoming one of the most popular pet birds in the world. Despite this scenario, little isknown about its basic reproductive biology in the wild and local people are largely unfamiliar with its international popularity. This project seeks to conduct a systematic field study of its reproductive biology and population ecology conjunction with local institutions of higher learning, biologists and established conservation programs in the region.

Status: Pending grant proposals (2).

Parrot communication in the wild from Karl Berg on Vimeo.

Chocolate, Trees and Citizen Science
Purpose:  Establish grass-roots monitoring program of cacao and other crops used in traditional agroforestry systems located near protected areas to help farmers better anticipate supply-side market fluctuations.  Estimate biodiversity inside plantations.

Background:  Cacao plantations cover approximately 300,000 hectares in western Ecuador – a figure equal to the number of hectares currently considered inside protected areas.  For a variety of reasons, cacao plantations also tend to located near protected areas.  As such, activities related to cacao plantations affect a large, albeit unknown, percentage of the region’s biodiversity and carbon budget.  Cacao is a tree crop traditionally organically grown with numerous other agricultural plantings, native timber species and harbors considerable biodiversity – especially when located close to intact forests.   Western Ecuador’s cacao is also one of the most highly prized in the world owing to its unique flavor bouquet – a fact that has eluded chemists, chocolatiers and agronomists for centuries.

Methods: Farmers associated with protected area will be trained to collect data on leaves, flowers, pods, disease on select cacao trees in their own farms at periodic time intervals. In addition an estimate of number of trees and acreage dedicated to cacao will be inventoried and biodiversity inside farms estimated. Data will be entered into a collective database by extensionists and integrated into a GIS map with layers indicating elevation, soil type, proximity to forest and climate.   Data will be used to create predictive model of the timing and magnitude of harvests.  Farmers can use the information to better guide plantation maintenance, growth and contraction.  Protected area managers can use the information to better understand how neighboring activities affect biodiversity.

Status: Pending grant proposals (2)