Publication: Phys.org

UCLA Expert: Morgan Tingley: Associate Professor, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
 

Casey Youngflesh: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Monte Neate-Clegg: Postdoctoral Scholar, UCLA Ornithology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Synopsis: Researchers Neate-Clegg and Tingley analyzed 34 years of data to identify how warming temperatures and fragmenting habitats are affecting 24 species of tropical birds in the Usambara Mountains of East Africa, one of the most species-rich regions on the planet.

UCLA News: All of the species they studied play critical roles in a wildlife hotspot, pollinating and dispersing seeds of plants that serve as habitat for a wide range of animals. Because they eat insects that spread diseases and maintain forests that help regulate water supply, the birds also help humans. Aside from such practical value, tropical birds contribute to natural beauty that, by attracting tourists, can help sustain livelihoods and communities. "There's a lot to be said for ecotourism when it's done right," Neate-Clegg said. "If the forest were healthier and there was more wildlife, more people would come and bring more money into the area." 

Read more at Phys.org.