Our alarming rate of resource exploitation and its consequences on the environment is fuelling an increase in sustainable energy production around the world. Wind power appears to be a particularly promising energy source relative to its environmental footprint, with the exception of potential negative effects of wind power on birds. Varying results from impact assessments around the world indicate that knowledge of both abiotic and biotic factors, as well as bird behavior and ecology, is required to assess the cumulative impact of any given wind farm on local bird communities. This study aims to assess the cumulative impact of a proposed wind farm on a threatened seabird, the red-throated diver (Gavia stellata), at one of its breeding "hotspots" in Sweden: the Holmöarna islands. Measurements of environmental variables in lakes on Holmöarna are combined with breeding surveys from 2012 to 2015 to assess which environmental variables may be associated with lakes that red-throated divers do or do not breed in, and which variables are correlated with breeding success. These results are combined with a literature review to assess the potential negative effects of the proposed wind farm on the breeding population on Holmöarna. The results show that average breeding success over the survey period was 0.35 fledged young per pair per year. No difference was found in environmental variables between lakes that divers had or had not bred in. Lake area/perimeter ratio and distance to the sea were significantly negatively correlated with breeding success, although distance to the sea was only significant for lakes with at least one successful breeding attempt during the survey period. Based on these correlations, 33 of a total 40 breeding lakes are shown to have relatively high area/perimeter ratios and long distances to the sea, which may pre-dispose divers breeding within them to low breeding success. These lakes are, therefore, identified as being at high-to-moderate risk of increased breeding failure if breeding success is further reduced as a result of external factors, including that of any negative impacts of the proposed wind farm. 31 of the 40 breeding lakes are also within 1 km of the proposed wind turbine sites, which may render red-throated divers breeding within them vulnerable to displacement as a result of wind farm-related disturbance. The literature review highlights the mechanisms that may determine the cumulative impact of the wind farm on red-throated divers in terms of collision mortality, habitat displacement, and barriers to movement. The strong sensitivity of red-throated divers to disturbance is considered to be the most likely driver of any negative effects of the wind farm. In this context, I thus argue the need for a precautionary approach to planning wind power developments in the vicinity of breeding red-throated diver populations.

Rapid economic development has occurred during the past few decades in China with the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) area as one of the most progressive areas. The urbanization, industrialization, agricultural and aquaculture activities result in extensive production and application of chemicals. Organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) have been widely used as i.e. pesticides, flame retardants and plasticizers. They are persistent, bioaccumulative and pose a potential threat to ecosystem and human health. However, limited research has been conducted in the YRD with respect to chemicals environmental exposure. The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the contamination level, distribution pattern and sources of OHCs in the YRD. Wildlife from different habitats are used to indicate the environmental pollution situation, and evaluate selected matrices for use in long term biomonitoring to determine the environmental stress the contamination may cause. In addition, a method is developed for dicofol analysis. Moreover, a specific effort is made to introduce statistic power analysis to assist in optimal sampling design. The thesis results show extensive contamination of OHCs in wildlife in the YRD. The occurrences of high concentrations of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are reported in wildlife, in particular in terrestrial species, (i.e. short-tailed mamushi snake and peregrine falcon). Impurities and byproducts of pentachlorophenol products, i.e. polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) and hydroxylated polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (OH-PCDEs) are identified and reported for the first time in eggs from black-crowned night heron and whiskered tern. High concentrations of octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) are determined in these samples. The toxic equivalents (TEQs) of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are at mean levels of 300 and 520 pg TEQ g-1lw (WHO2005 TEQ) in eggs from the two bird species, respectively. This is two orders of magnitude higher than European Union (EU) regulation limit in chicken eggs. Also, a novel pattern of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with octa- to decaCBs, contributing to as much as 20% of total PCBs therein, are reported in birds. The legacy POPs shows a common characteristic with relatively high level of organochlorine pesticides (i.e. DDT, hexacyclohexanes (HCHs) and Mirex), indicating historic applications. In contrast, rather low concentrations are shown of industrial chemicals such as PCBs and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). A refined and improved analytical method is developed to separate dicofol from its major decomposition compound, 4,4’-dichlorobenzophenone. Hence dicofol is possible to assess as such. Statistic power analysis demonstrates that sampling of sedentary species should be consistently spread over a larger area to monitor temporal trends of contaminants in a robust manner. The results presented in this thesis show high CPs and OCDD concentrations in wildlife. The levels and patterns of OHCs in YRD differ from other well studied areas of the world. This is likely due to the extensive production and use of chemicals in the YRD. The results strongly signal the need of research biomonitoring programs that meet the current situation of the YRD. Such programs will contribute to the management of chemicals and environment in YRD, with the potential to grow into the human health sector, and to expand to China as a whole. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 5: Submitted. Paper 6: Manuscript.</p><p> </p>

Algal blooms are directly related to human-caused nutrient enrichment of water bodies. The cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa produces microcystin (MC), a toxin that has been linked with mortalities and illness of many organisms. We show that MC is not constrained by the aquatic-terrestrial ecotone. MC was detected in a primary consumer and emerging aquatic invertebrate (Hexagenia Mayfly), a terrestrial insect and predator of emerging aquatic invertebrates (Tetragnathidae Spider), and a vertebrate consumer (Prothonotary Warbler). Mayfly and spider MC levels varied across the blooming period. MC levels in prothonotary warbler livers varied by age class; nestlings having the highest levels. MC levels decreased in fledglings over time. A more aquatic diet was related to higher MC levels in nestlings at one site and nestling fecal-sacs varied spatially, also indicating that aquatic diet is related to MC consumption. Warbler body condition and growth rate was not related to liver microcystin levels.

Depuis le début du 20ième siècle, les changements d'usage des terres, la disparition des prédateurs et les régulations de la chasse ont provoqué une augmentation des populations de cervidés dans les forêts tempérés et boréales. Ce phénomène, qui est un grand succès de la conservation de ces espèces, a toutefois conduit à des surabondances qui ont entrainé des effets négatifs en cascades sur la végétation et les communautés animales qui en dépendent.J'ai utilisé l'expérience naturelle qu'est l'introduction du cerf à queue noire sur l'archipel d'Haïda Gwaii pour étudier les conséquences de sa surabondance sur un écosystème tempéré peu perturbé par les activités anthropiques. J'ai ainsi pu mettre en évidence les contrôles descendants directs et indirects qu'exerce l'herbivore sur les Bryophytes (positifs), les plantes vasculaires (négatifs) et sur l'avifaune (négatifs) quand il n'est pas limité par les prédateurs ou la chasse.J'ai complété ces résultats par une analyse régionale sur 20 ans pour montrer que la perte de biodiversité enclenchée par la surabondance de ces cerfs était un phénomène d'érosion continu se prolongeant bien au-delà de l'impact initial. A l'échelle de l'Amérique du Nord, j'ai ensuite pu montrer, conformément aux prédictions faite à partir des études locales, qu'il existait une relation entre surabondance des populations d'ongulés et déclin de l'avifaune du sous-bois du continent. Enfin, j'ai analysé les suivis d'une expérience de réduction des densités de cerfs entamée sur deux îles il y a 13 ans. La végétation et l'avifaune se sont partiellement reconstituées démontrant qu'il est possible (1) de restaurer les réseaux trophiques fortement modifiés et (2) qu'une telle restauration si elle est possible prendra du temps et ne convergera pas (rapidement) vers un état initial. Afin de limiter les conséquences dommageables provoquées par la surabondance des cervidés, la conservation des prédateurs et l'augmentation de la chasse doivent être favorisés. / Since the past century land use changes, elimination of predators and hunting regulations triggered an increase of deer populations in temperate and boreal forests. This remarkable conservation success, lead to deer overabundance and to a cascade of negative effects on vegetation and on animal communities depending on it. I used the natural experiment provided by the introduction of black-tailed deer to Haida Gwaii to analyze the consequences of overabundant herbivore populations on temperate ecosystem only slightly modified by human activities. This unique situation allowed me to demonstrate the direct and indirect top-down effects that herbivores uncontrolled by predation or hunting exert on Bryophytes (positive) and Vascular plants (negative) as well as on songbirds (negative).I used an analysis of regional trends spanning over 20 years to show that biodiversity erosion caused by overabundant deer extends far beyond the initial impact. At the North-American scale I was able to establish a relationship between expanding deer populations and continent wide declines in understory birds. Finally I analyzed the results of an experimental reduction in deer populations initiated 13 years ago on two islands. The understory plants and songbirds responded positively and we show that (1) it is possible to restore trophic networks even after their dramatically modification, (2) that such a restoration while possible takes time and does not (rapidly) converge towards an identified initial state. From a practical standpoint I recommend that to mitigate negative effects of overabundant deer, predator conservation and hunting have to be promoted.

Altitudinal gradients represent useful tool for investigating diversity patterns and processes affecting species richness and turnover along steep gradient of conditions at relatively small scale. The aim of my study was to compile a complete checklist of birds for elevational gradient of Mt. Cameroon rainforests (300 - 2300 m a.s.l.) and to analyse distribution of species diversity, species turnover, elevational ranges and relationships between elevational distribution of species and their range size, body weight or diet type. Species richness on the elevational gradient of Mt. Cameroon decline monotonically with some plateau at 600 - 1000 m a.s.l. Changes of community composition along the gradient are caused mainly by species turnover at low elevations, which contrast to pattern above 1200 m a.s.l. where the betadiversity is influenced mainly by continual species loss (nestedness). Species elevational ranges increase with increasing elevation, which is in agreement with elevational Rapoport's rule. Species breeding at higher elevations have smaller geographical ranges, restricted to isolated islands of montane rainforests. Numbers of insectivorous species are rapidly decreasing with increasing elevation, proportion of nectarivorous species is rather invariable and number of granivorous species...

Central place foragers, such as territorial hummingbirds, feed from resources that tend to be constant in space and to replenish with time (e.g. nectar in flowers). The ability to remember both where and when resources are available would allow these animals to forage efficiently. Animals that feed at multiple locations would also benefit from forming routes between these multiple locations. Hummingbirds are thought to forage by repeating the order in which they visit several locations following a route called a “trapline”, although there are no quantitative data describing this behaviour. As a first step to determining how and if wild free living hummingbirds forage by traplining, I decomposed this behaviour into some of its key components. Through five field experiments, where I trained free-living hummingbirds to feed from artificial flowers, I confirmed that territorial hummingbirds will, in fact, trapline. Birds will use the shortest routes to visit several locations and will prioritize those locations that are closest to a usual feeding site. Additionally, even though hummingbirds can learn to use temporal information when visiting several patches of flowers, the spatial location of those patches has a larger influence in how these birds forage in the wild. Since male and female hummingbirds were thought to forage differently I also tested whether there were sex differences in the types of cues they use when foraging. Contrary to expectation, female hummingbirds will also use spatial cues to relocate a rewarded site. Using the foraging ecology of rufous hummingbirds to formulate predictions as to what information these birds should use has lead me to discover that these birds forage in a completely different way than previously thought.

Using Joseph Wright's painting, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump as an inspirational starting point, Shelagh Stephenson's An Experiment with an Air Pump explores the depth of human existence using universal conflicts such as: morals versus ethics, science versus God and right versus wrong. Since the play's premiere in 1998, it has provided a forum for hot button topics such as stem cell research, abortion, and scientific experimentation. The University of New Orleans' production not only presented the issues in the play, it strives to be an example of theatrical excellence, challenge and engage both the company and the audience.

Como ampliar a oferta de serviços ecossistêmicos em áreas de produção agrícola tem sido um debate bastante atual, já que as áreas protegidas parecem não serem suficientes para garantir, por exemplo, a conservação da biodiversidade. Dentre as comunidades biológicas afetadas pelas áreas de produção, estão as aves, as quais demonstram rápida resposta às mudanças na paisagem. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender como o planejamento da paisagem em áreas de florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento pode influenciar a diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves. Para tanto, áreas com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de eucalipto no Estado do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia, foram divididas em Unidades de Planejamento da Paisagem (UPP). Dados secundários de levantamentos de aves realizados durante os anos de 2005 a 2010 foram utilizados. As espécies de aves registradas foram caracterizadas por quatro traços funcionais, a guilda trófica, o extrato de forrageio, o habitat e a massa corporal média. A partir de então, foram calculadas três índices independentes para representar a diversidade funcional: riqueza funcional (FRic), equitabilidade funcional (FEve) e divergência funcional (FDiv). Para a obtenção das métricas da paisagem, foi empregado o mapa de uso do solo referente ao ano de 2010, com base no qual calculou-se a diversidade de clones (IDCL) e de idades (IDID) para as áreas de florestas plantadas, e, para as áreas destinadas à conservação, a diversidade de tipologias vegetais (IDNAT), a proporção de áreas destinadas à conservação (IPANP), a densidade de borda (IDBRD), a proporção de área nuclear (IPAC), a proximidade da vegetação nativa (IPNAT) e o valor de importância ecológica (IVAN). Posteriormente, a estes dois grupos de variáveis, diversidade funcional e métricas da paisagem, foram aplicados a análise de correlação e regressão linear simples. Os levantamentos de aves registraram 218 espécies, as quais totalizaram 3455 indivíduos. Os insetívoros foram os indivíduos mais expressivos para a guilda trófica, para o traço estrato de forrageio, os indivíduos que utilizam exclusivamente o dossel foram os mais abundantes e o hábito de vida exclusivamente florestal predominou nas paisagens estudadas. Foi encontrada relação significativa entre os índices de diversidade funcional de aves e, ao menos, uma das métricas da paisagem. Assim, quanto maior o IPAC maior é a diversidade de funções desempenhadas pela assembleia de aves na paisagem (FRic). O IDNAT mostrou-se negativamente correlacionado com FEve, o que indica que uma maior diversidade de áreas destinadas à conservação proporciona uma variedade desproporcional entre funções e abundâncias na assembleia de aves. Ainda, as assembleias de aves são mais divergentes (FDiv), havendo menor competição por recursos, quando os fragmentos florestais estão mais próximos (IPNAT) e possuem maior importância ecológica (IVAN). Dentro desse contexto, os componentes da diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves são influenciados pela estrutura da paisagem com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento, e, as ações que promovam a diversidade funcional de aves deve se dar na escala da paisagem, de forma que produção e conservação estejam presentes em uma mesma unidade de paisagem complexa. / How to expand the supply of ecosystem services in agricultural production areas has been a very current debate, as protected areas do not seem to be sufficient to ensure, for example, the conservation of biodiversity. Birds, for example, are one of biological communities affected by the production which respond rapidly to changes in the landscape. This study aimed to understand how landscape planning of fast growing planted forests can influence bird assembly functional diversity. Therefore, landscapes composed by eucalyptus plantations located at Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, were organized into Landscape Planning Units (UPP). Secondary data from bird surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 were used. Bird species were characterized into four functional traits: trophic guild, forage extract, habitat and average body mass. Three independent metrics were then calculated to represent functional diversity: functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv). In order to obtain landscape metrics it was used the 2010 land-use map. Based on this map, the diversity of clones (IDCL) and ages (IDID) of forest plantation were calculated, and, for conservation areas, diversity of vegetation typologies (IDNAT), proportion of areas intended for conservation (IPANP), edge density (IDBRD), proportion of nuclear area (IPAC), proximity to native vegetation (IPNAT) and ecological importance value (IVAN). Subsequently, correlation analysis and simple linear regression were applied to these two groups of variables (functional diversity and landscape metrics). Birds surveys registered 218 species and 3455 individuals. The insectivores were the most expressive individuals for the trophic guild. For the forage stratum trait, canopy individuals were the most abundant and forest habitat birds predominated at studied landscapes. A significant relationship was found between the rates of functional diversity of birds and at least one of the landscape metrics. Thus, IPAC was directly related to diversity of functions performed by the bird assembly in the landscape (FRic). IDNAT was negatively related to FEve, indicating that a greater diversity of conservation areas provides a disproportionate variety of functions and abundances in the bird assembly Also, bird assemblages are more divergent (FDiv), having less competition for resources, when the forest fragments are structured connected (IPNAT) and have greater ecological importance (IVAN). In this context, components of bird assembly functional diversity are influenced by the landscape structure in matrix composed by fast-growing planted forests, and, actions that enhance birds functional diversity should be given at the landscape scale in order to keep production and conservation present in the same complex landscape unit.

Como ampliar a oferta de serviços ecossistêmicos em áreas de produção agrícola tem sido um debate bastante atual, já que as áreas protegidas parecem não serem suficientes para garantir, por exemplo, a conservação da biodiversidade. Dentre as comunidades biológicas afetadas pelas áreas de produção, estão as aves, as quais demonstram rápida resposta às mudanças na paisagem. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender como o planejamento da paisagem em áreas de florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento pode influenciar a diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves. Para tanto, áreas com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de eucalipto no Estado do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia, foram divididas em Unidades de Planejamento da Paisagem (UPP). Dados secundários de levantamentos de aves realizados durante os anos de 2005 a 2010 foram utilizados. As espécies de aves registradas foram caracterizadas por quatro traços funcionais, a guilda trófica, o extrato de forrageio, o habitat e a massa corporal média. A partir de então, foram calculadas três índices independentes para representar a diversidade funcional: riqueza funcional (FRic), equitabilidade funcional (FEve) e divergência funcional (FDiv). Para a obtenção das métricas da paisagem, foi empregado o mapa de uso do solo referente ao ano de 2010, com base no qual calculou-se a diversidade de clones (IDCL) e de idades (IDID) para as áreas de florestas plantadas, e, para as áreas destinadas à conservação, a diversidade de tipologias vegetais (IDNAT), a proporção de áreas destinadas à conservação (IPANP), a densidade de borda (IDBRD), a proporção de área nuclear (IPAC), a proximidade da vegetação nativa (IPNAT) e o valor de importância ecológica (IVAN). Posteriormente, a estes dois grupos de variáveis, diversidade funcional e métricas da paisagem, foram aplicados a análise de correlação e regressão linear simples. Os levantamentos de aves registraram 218 espécies, as quais totalizaram 3455 indivíduos. Os insetívoros foram os indivíduos mais expressivos para a guilda trófica, para o traço estrato de forrageio, os indivíduos que utilizam exclusivamente o dossel foram os mais abundantes e o hábito de vida exclusivamente florestal predominou nas paisagens estudadas. Foi encontrada relação significativa entre os índices de diversidade funcional de aves e, ao menos, uma das métricas da paisagem. Assim, quanto maior o IPAC maior é a diversidade de funções desempenhadas pela assembleia de aves na paisagem (FRic). O IDNAT mostrou-se negativamente correlacionado com FEve, o que indica que uma maior diversidade de áreas destinadas à conservação proporciona uma variedade desproporcional entre funções e abundâncias na assembleia de aves. Ainda, as assembleias de aves são mais divergentes (FDiv), havendo menor competição por recursos, quando os fragmentos florestais estão mais próximos (IPNAT) e possuem maior importância ecológica (IVAN). Dentro desse contexto, os componentes da diversidade funcional da assembleia de aves são influenciados pela estrutura da paisagem com matriz composta por florestas plantadas de rápido crescimento, e, as ações que promovam a diversidade funcional de aves deve se dar na escala da paisagem, de forma que produção e conservação estejam presentes em uma mesma unidade de paisagem complexa. / How to expand the supply of ecosystem services in agricultural production areas has been a very current debate, as protected areas do not seem to be sufficient to ensure, for example, the conservation of biodiversity. Birds, for example, are one of biological communities affected by the production which respond rapidly to changes in the landscape. This study aimed to understand how landscape planning of fast growing planted forests can influence bird assembly functional diversity. Therefore, landscapes composed by eucalyptus plantations located at Espírito Santo and southern Bahia, were organized into Landscape Planning Units (UPP). Secondary data from bird surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 were used. Bird species were characterized into four functional traits: trophic guild, forage extract, habitat and average body mass. Three independent metrics were then calculated to represent functional diversity: functional richness (FRic), functional evenness (FEve) and functional divergence (FDiv). In order to obtain landscape metrics it was used the 2010 land-use map. Based on this map, the diversity of clones (IDCL) and ages (IDID) of forest plantation were calculated, and, for conservation areas, diversity of vegetation typologies (IDNAT), proportion of areas intended for conservation (IPANP), edge density (IDBRD), proportion of nuclear area (IPAC), proximity to native vegetation (IPNAT) and ecological importance value (IVAN). Subsequently, correlation analysis and simple linear regression were applied to these two groups of variables (functional diversity and landscape metrics). Birds surveys registered 218 species and 3455 individuals. The insectivores were the most expressive individuals for the trophic guild. For the forage stratum trait, canopy individuals were the most abundant and forest habitat birds predominated at studied landscapes. A significant relationship was found between the rates of functional diversity of birds and at least one of the landscape metrics. Thus, IPAC was directly related to diversity of functions performed by the bird assembly in the landscape (FRic). IDNAT was negatively related to FEve, indicating that a greater diversity of conservation areas provides a disproportionate variety of functions and abundances in the bird assembly Also, bird assemblages are more divergent (FDiv), having less competition for resources, when the forest fragments are structured connected (IPNAT) and have greater ecological importance (IVAN). In this context, components of bird assembly functional diversity are influenced by the landscape structure in matrix composed by fast-growing planted forests, and, actions that enhance birds functional diversity should be given at the landscape scale in order to keep production and conservation present in the same complex landscape unit.

Le Quetzal Resplendissant Pharomachrus mocinno est une espèce d’oiseau tropical considérée fortement menacée par la perte de son habitat due aux activités humaines. Le Quetzal Resplendissant joue un rôle important de disperseur de graines et constitue le centre de la culture maya passée et présente. Les recherches sur cette espèce couvrent plusieurs aspects de son histoire naturelle et de sa biologie. Néanmoins, à ce jour, il n’y a aucune description détaillée du comportement et de l’écologie acoustiques de cette espèce, condition préalable à une conservation efficace de l'espèce. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’étudier tout particulièrement le comportement et l’écologie acoustique de P. mocino dans la forêt nuageuse du Guatemala. Une analyse détaillée des vocalisations de P. mocinno, incluant des expériences de propagation de ses vocalisations dans son habitat, a permis d’identifier deux types de vocalisations destinés à la communication à longue distance et deux autres types de vocalisations destinés à la communication à courte distance. La quantification des différences dans les vocalisations territoriales des deux sous-espèces de Quetzals Resplendissants, P. m. mocinno (partie nord de l’Amérique centrale et sud du Mexique) et P. m. costaricensis (sud de l'Amérique centrale) a révélé de nettes différences entre les sous-espèces, ce qui conforterait l'hypothèse d’espèces distinctes. L'observation de l'espèce dans la canopée dense est difficile et la manipulation des individus est controversée en raison de sa grande importance culturelle. De fait, un système acoustique automatique a été mis au point pour suivre l’espèce de manière non invasive. Le système s'est avéré efficace et a produit des résultats révélant des profils de suivis acoustiques en partie dépendants de variables environnementales. Enfin, la communauté acoustique des oiseaux à laquelle P. mocinno appartient a été analysée afin d’évaluer les interactions interspécifiques de compétition. Les recherches développées ici devraient aider aux décisions de conservation futures concernant le Quetzal Resplendissant et son habitat, la forêt nuageuse. Cette recherche montre également que l'écoacoustique peut constituer une stratégie utile pour aborder les problèmes d'écologie et de conservation dans les zones tropicales. / The Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno is a tropical bird considered in a high risk of danger. Degradation of its habitat caused by human activities is the principal menace. The Resplendent Quetzal is important as seed disperser and is the centre of the past and present Mayan culture. The available studies about the species have covered aspects of the natural history and biology. Nevertheless, the description of the acoustic behaviour and ecology, a prerequisite for the conservation of the species, was not available. The general aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate the acoustic behaviour and ecology of P. mocinno in the cloud forest of Guatemala. A detailed analysis of P. mocinno vocalizations, including propagation experiments of these vocalizations in its habitat, led to identify two vocalizations intended for long range, and two for short range communication. Quantification of acoustic parameters in territorial vocalizations of the two subspecies of the Resplendent Quetzal, P. m. mocinno (north part of Central America and Chiapas) and P. m. costaricensis (south part of Central America), revealed clear differences between the subspecies, that could support a species separation hypothesis. . The observation of the species in the dense canopy is difficult and manipulation of individuals is controversial due to its high cultural importance. Then, an automatic acoustic system was developed as a method to study the species in a non-invasive way. The system proved to be efficient and returned results that revealed acoustic patterns linked to environmental variables. Finally, the acoustic community of other bird species P. mocinno belongs to was analysed so that interspecific competition interactions could be assessed. The research here developed should help in future conservation decisions about the Resplendent Quetzal and its habitat, the cloud forest. This research also illustrates that ecoacoustics can be a valuable strategy to tackle ecology and conservation questions in tropical areas.