RESEARCH INTERESTS
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH INTERESTS
GUY A. BALDASSARRE
Taxonomically, my research interests and productivity have focused on aspects of waterbird ecology. However, although I’ve penned a major text, Waterfowl Ecology and Management, and am currently working on the second edition, my waterfowl colleagues would readily note that my interests are much broader. I have done expensive work with the Caribbean Flamingo, worked with shorebirds (Piping Plover), and wetland bird diversity in general. A current project I’m initiating in New York focuses on ecology of the Least Bittern and American Bittern. Indeed, I do only have one current student working on any aspect of waterfowl ecology!
Functionally, my interest has also been to assess the functional role of wetlands for wetland birds, both during the breeding and nonbreeding components of the annual cycle. My work in Texas and later with graduate students in Louisiana was among the first studies to point out the role of wetland complexes in meeting the life-history requirements of nonbreeding waterfowl. The Texas work noted the interrelationships between the nutritional value of waste grain and natural wetland foods and the ecology on wintering waterfowl. My students and I have done similar, recent work in Mexico, especially Sinaloa and Yucatan.
My work with Flamingos in Mexico was similar: assess wetland function in relation to life-history requirements. The new twist here was our landscape-level approach that is beginning to elucidate the costs and benefits of using different habitats within the 8,000-km2 coastal wetland complex on the Yucatan Peninsula. We then saw these data used in a state/federal management plan for the entire coastal wetland ecosystem.
My future research interests are still in focusing on understanding the functional value of wetlands to wetland birds. However, I am now exploring these questions in a collaborative, teamwork approach, which I believe is the best way to move these issues forward. For example, our project in Venezuela will focus on developing a monitoring program for all waterbirds (some 75) in the Llanos wetlands, but in a way that illuminates functional issues at the landscape level. To get at this problem, I am partnering with James Gibbs here at ESF (monitoring) and Francisco Vilella at Mississippi State (GIS and landscape ecology). We of course have several partners in Venezuela.
Finally,
I am very interested in tropical work
overall, although I strive to strike a
balance between international work and work in New York The international perspective is critical
for U.S. students, brings students from other countries to U.S. universities,
and ultimately improves management and understanding of those habitats, many of
which are important wintering habitats for North American birds. In sum, I plan to remain wetland-wildlife
oriented, but focus more on a landscape level, both domestically and
internationally. However, I will also
continue to do the basic descriptive work on marsh birds, because so little
information is at hand.