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Space Based Ornithology: On the Wings of Migration and Biophysics

Discover the fascinating world of bird migration through the lens of space-based biophysics, ornithology, and conservation. Learn about the impact of climate on bird energy models, migration patterns, and decision support systems. Explore the relationship between thermal environments, avian energetics, and habitat conservation. Follow the rhythm of the seasons and the journey of real and virtual birds as they navigate geographical and climatic spaces. Dive into the complexities of bird migration dynamics, from shorebirds to Neotropical songbirds. Uncover the challenges and solutions in tracking birds over long distances. Join us in understanding the "Alpha and Omega" problem in avian ecology.

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Space Based Ornithology: On the Wings of Migration and Biophysics

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  1. Space Based Ornithology:On the Wings of Migration and Biophysics Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory James.A.Smith@nasa.gov

  2. Motivation • Human Health -- West Nile, Encephalitis,… • Conservation -- Habitat corridors, Species richness,… • International Treaties -- Tripartite Agreement … • The “Alpha and Omega” Problem

  3. Outline • Background • Individual bird energy models • Climate space niche • Examples - Virtual Birds • Summer breeding ground • Migration patterns • Real Birds, Observations-- • Decision Support Systems

  4. Basic Idea Thermal and water-relation environments of birds, as estimated from satellite data and biophysical models, can define the constraints on their occurrences and richness (“Holdridge for the Birds”) Weather Geomorphology (Hansen, Graham, Stohlgren, Nemani …)

  5. Thermal Infrared Image

  6. Avian Energetics Metabolism Climate space TU TL Find all {Ta,S} that satisfy TL < Tb < TU No Sex

  7. Example -- Summer (July) Air Temperature Solar Radiation

  8. Northern Hemisphere in July

  9. Virtual Birds Myiarchus nasaii Calidris smithii

  10. From climate to geographical space (Jeremy Rayner Leeds)

  11. Close Relatives

  12. Bird Migration “One morn the wind blowed cold and strong, And the Leaves went whirling away; The birds prepared for their journey long, that raw and gusty day.” --Henry D. Thoreau (National Geographic)

  13. Rhythm of the Seasons Solar Flux Air Temperature

  14. Climate Space Dynamics

  15. Bird Migration Example

  16. Real Birds, Observations--Decision Support • Migratory shorebirds • Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) • Trans Gulf Express (Meso America) • Observations • Arrival time distributions • Residence time distributions • Fat distribution levels • Dynamic State Variable Modeling with Various Optimization Landscapes

  17. Pectoral Sandpiper

  18. Avian Energetics - “Let Them Eat Cake” Daily Energy Budget = f(time budget, habitat quality, ingestion and climatic factors) Daily Time Budget = f(time migrating, time resting, and time feeding) Time and Energy budgets determine bird state--latitude and energy reserves

  19. Current USGS ‘DSS’ Status • Derive driving climatic/weather variables from met stations • Have hooks for ingest “quality”, but no gis/real time • Has been run used at stop-over/refuge way-stations • Relys on National Wetlands Inventory (Computational Challenges) (Farmer and Wiens)

  20. (Molly Brown)

  21. Identify “Full-Service -- Fire Escape”

  22. Summary - “Space-Based Biophysical Ornithology” • Start Simple -- What can we learn? Biodiversity.. • Shorebirds Migration -- Decision Support • Neotropical Song Birds -- Hard, Very Sensitive Challenges -- Long distance tracking? What is truth? Swenson, George,W.,Martin Wikelsi, and James A. Smith. Tracking very-low-power ground transmitters from near earth orbit. IGARSS 04 (Post-docs --brains arriving)

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