Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Bird Communities in Jamaica
Throughout the world, tropical forests are being converted to agriculture and other human land uses. Land-use change and associated loss of forest cover and habitat fragmentation is predicted to be the greatest threat to global biodiversity in the 21st century (Sala et al. 2000).
Although habitat fragmentation resulting from land-use change is a worldwide phenomenon, understanding its effects in the tropics is of particular importance because that is where biodiversity is the highest (Reaka-Kudla et al. 1997) and habitat conversion is most rapid and extensive (Lepers et al. 2003). To date however, the majority of research on fragmentation has been conducted in temperate regions, with only 13 percent of current fragmentation studies focused on tropical forests (McGarigal and Cushman 2002).
This proposal outlines research that will address this knowledge gap and provide essential guidance on how best to manage forest fragments that now serve as refuges for many endemic tropical birds in the Caribbean.
Critical Biodiversity Hotspot
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| This Jamaican tody, found only in Jamaica, has been caught in a mist net. It will be quickly removed, measured, and given a unique identifier (colored ankle bracelets) so its future movements can be followed. |
The Caribbean's Greater Antilles are an ideal location to explore fragmentation issues because the rates of deforestation are among the highest globally (Lepers et al. 2003) and this region is considered one of the top 4 critically important biodiversity hotspots in the world (Myers et al. 2000). Unfortunately, the Caribbean is also predicted to lose most of its endemic species under current deforestation rates (Brooks et al. 2002).
Within the Caribbean, the island of Jamaica, once almost entirely covered by forest, has suffered extreme forest loss. Today, less than 30 percent of Jamaica's natural forests remain (FAO 2001). Despite such extensive loss, remnant forests are essential to the economic life of the island, and serve to protect watersheds, water supplies, soils, and biodiversity (NRCA 1995).
Jamaica - Only Home for Many Species
| Endemic Jamaican Birds |
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Of all the Caribbean islands, Jamaica has the highest number of endemic species, with 100 endemic ferns, 27 endemic reptiles, and 28 endemic birds (Koenig 2000).
Despite the ecological importance of Jamaica's forests, the effects of deforestation there have received little attention from the scientific community. In fact, adequate ecological and demographic information on which to base effective conservation management strategies is lacking for almost all species in Jamaica (NEPA 2003).
Research Focus
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| Aerial photo of Jamaica showing forest patches (green) within a bauxite mining area (brown). Yellow dots are study sites. |
The objective of my research is to examine how intervening land cover surrounding forest fragments (i.e., matrix) affect the isolation and degradation of bird communities in Jamaica.
The following questions will be addressed:
- what are the relative influences of patch area and patch isolation (such as island biogeography) versus the landscape composition (such as matrix quality) on the potential of fragmented landscapes to support native bird assemblages?
- to what extent do life history and ecological traits predict sensitivity to fragmentation and matrix type?
SMBC Investigators:
- Peter Marra
- Christina Kennedy, graduate student
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