Bird abundance-mist nets in the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot and Nora Devoe Cut Plots in the Luquillos Experimental Forest

This project seeks to measure long-term trends and variability in bird populations in tabonuco forest at El Verde. Repeated measures of bird populations using mist nets are conducted annually in the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot. For each bird caught, I obtain physical measurements (weight, length of wing, length of tail), and estimates of fat, age, and breeding condition. Captured birds are marked to estimate mortality and longevity. Data on canopy openness are also collected annually at each mist net as part of this project.

Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.