My doctoral research focused on birds in the urban environment of Tucson, Arizona. Urban environments present unique challenges and opportunities for ecological research and conservation, and my work illustrates these aspects. From 2003-2008, I coordinated the Tucson Bird Count (TBC), a citywide bird survey program conducted by volunteer birders. My work with the TBC suggests that citizen-scientists may represent a valuable resource for ecologists because they can collect data over large scales and/or time periods. However, the environmental changes induced by humans in urban areas can also have significant negative impacts on native wildlife. My research indicates that for many native bird species, these impacts can be reduced through the actions of individual homeowners, neighborhood groups, and city and regional planners and managers. In working to maintain these species, it is important to consider both the specific habitat features important for each species, as well as the scale at which the species respond to these features.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/194004 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | McCaffrey, Rachel |
| Contributors | Mannan, R.W., Mannan, R.W., Rosenzweig, Michael, Shaw, William, Livingston, Margaret |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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