Birds in High Places: ecology and conservation value of northern mountains for avian biodiversity
Wednesday March 29, 2017 12:00pm-1:00pm
The Old Church (corner of First Avenue and King Street) - Smithers, BC
About this presentation
Mountains comprise about 50% of the BC and Yukon landbase, and one-third of birds breeding in North America use mountain habitats for at least one critical period of their annual life cycle. Birds have developed exceptional adaptions to live in these environmentally rigorous habitats, where often abundant food and moderate predation risk can offset the increased energetic costs of living at high elevation. Join Kathy Martin for an exploration of northern alpine avian adaptations, and the implications of climate change for avian diversity.
About Kathy Martin
Dr. Kathy Martin is a Professor in the Forestry Faculty at the University of British Columbia, and a Senior Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Dr. Martin conducts research on the ecology and conservation of birds in forest, mountain and grassland ecosystems in North and South America. Her current research themes involve the ecology of birds breeding in mountain areas and their abilities to cope with climate variability, and also the population and community responses of forest birds, especially cavity nesting vertebrates to local and large-scale disturbances. Dr. Martin established The Centre for Alpine Studies (UBC), which provides information on ecology and conservation for high elevation ecosystems. Kathy is a Past President of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, and current President-Elect of the American Ornithological Society.
