Movement ecology research to advance conservation of South America´s grassland migratory birds

JAHN, A.E,; BEJARANO, VANESA; CUETO, V.R.; DI GIACOMO, A.S.; FONTANA, C.S.

Pespectives in Ecology and Conservation

Elsevier

Año: 2017

2530-0644

Abstract. South America is home to some of the largest, most diversegrasslands on the planet, providing critical habitat for numerous species ofplants and animals, and vital resources for millions of people. Yet, at thedawn of the 21st Century, South America?s grasslands areexperiencing rapid, widespread and unprecedented impacts from activities suchas pesticide use, drainage, urbanization, and conversion to industrialmonocultures. In combination with the pervasive effects of global climatechange, these impacts have the potential to ripple across grassland food websin ways we still poorly understand. How do these impacts affect the behavior,ecology and population demographics of the numerous migratory birds that callthese grasslands home? Given the historical lack of research on grassland birdsacross the New World, we know very little about how to best conserve them, muchless which grassland migratory birds are currently impacted or likely will bein the near future. We argue that, by applying the substantial and recent theoretical and technological advances inthe field of movement ecology, rapid advances can be achieved in understandinghow to conserve grassland migratory birds in South America. We outline the current state of knowledge about grassland birdsthat migrate within South America, themain threats to their survival, and how the emerging field of movement ecologycan contribute to understanding how to conserve and manage their populations. Only withinformation on the full annual cycle of grassland migratory birds in SouthAmerica, including processes occurring within and between seasons at the individual and population levels, will we be able toformulate effective conservation and management plans to ensure the long-termviability of these unique species.