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HART LAB RESEARCH projects



BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF FOREST BIRDS



Social behavior is often overlooked in conservation biology. Song is one of the most important social behaviors in birds and is generally considered to be a culturally transmitted trait that is passed between parents and offspring and among neighbors. Song is also very important to territoriality, reproductive success, and social cohesion. Examining the ways song and other social behaviors vary within and among populations across the landscape and over time is a major current area of research in our lab, as outlined in more detail below


Biogeography of bird song Vocal repertoire changes over time behavioral ecology of hawaiian forest birds

DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, & DEMOGRAPHY OF HAWAIIAN FOREST BIRDS



Understanding the relationship between habitat variables and bird distribution and abundance in Hawaii is a major area of research in the lab. Most recently, we have been collaborating with other researchers to develop new bioacoustic and analytical techniques to improve our ability to monitor bird populations across the landscape and over time.


Birdnet Identifying social behaviors that increase survival and productivity in endangered Hawaiian ‘Alalā Quantifying the effects of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death on Hawaiian Forest Bird Communities using bioacoustics and traditional techniques to estimate avian density and monitor bird distributions Juvenile dispersal and adult home range size of an endangered hawaiian honeycreeper, the 'akohekohe the effects of natural and anthropogenic noise on birdsong characteristics and use of acoustic space

HAWAIIAN FOREST
ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION



Understanding the relationship between habitat variables and bird distribution and abundance in Hawaii is a major area of research in the lab. Most recently, we have been collaborating with other researchers to develop new bioacoustic and analytical techniques to improve our ability to monitor bird populations across the landscape and over time.


age and growth patterns of sub-alpine trees on maunakea dynamics and conservation of the montane wet forest tree community at hakalau

DISEASE AND FORAGING ECOLOGY OF HAWAIIAN FOREST BIRDS



Mosquito transmitted disease has had major impacts on the distribution and abundance of Hawaiian Honeycreepers. It is critical to gain a better understanding of the complex relationship between mosquito abundance, transmission, non-native ungulates, and bird movement patterns in relation to food availability in order to develop appropriate management strategies to save the remaining honeycreeper species. Please click the button below or the the “publications” section of this website for links to relevant manuscripts.


Avian-disease carrying mosquito surveillance Relevant manuscripts

USING ORNITHOLOGICAL RADAR TO SURVEY THE NIGHTTIME USE OF AIRSPACE BY BIRDS AND BATS



In collaboration with the UH Office of Maunakea Management, the Hart Lab maintains a Furuno radar array that is mounted on one of our lab vehicles. This system is able to detect all flying objects ranging in size from moths to large birds from up to 1.5 km away. We are very interested in using the radar to detect areas on Maunakea where seabirds are returning to their high elevation nests at night. We are also interested in improving our understanding of high elevation foraging locations of native Hawaiian bats.


image gallery

CONTACT:
Patrick J. Hart
Professor, Dept. of Biology
E-mail: 
pjhart@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 932-7182

Fax: (808) 932-7295

Office: Sciences and Technology Building (STB), Room 115