Birds Of The World Discovery Webinar | The Cornell Lab of Ornithology | https://birdsoftheworld.org
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Description:
Integrative taxonomy – which involves using multiple independent datasets, such as morphology (plumage and biometrics), vocalizations, other behaviors, DNA, and ecology to assess species status – has replaced traditional approaches where taxonomic rank (species or subspecies) was determined mainly based on morphology. In this talk Per will give some examples from studies that I have been involved with, mainly on Asian and African birds, where this method has led to an increase in the number of recognized species, including descriptions of new species to science. He will also explain why he thinks that delimiting species only based on genetic differences is inferior to an integrative taxonomic approach.
SPECIAL GUEST:
Per Alström has been a keen birder since his early childhood in southwest Sweden. He started traveling abroad at an early age and, altogether, he has spent several years in the field in some 20 countries in Asia, as well as multiple trips to other parts of the world including North America and several countries in Africa. Author of approximately 140 scientific and 80 popular science articles (including many on difficult to identify bird species), and first author of two highly acclaimed books, A Field Guide To The Rare Birds Of Britain And Europe (1991) and Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America (2003, where he also painted the pipits) and co-author of chapters in two volumes of Handbook Of The Birds Of The World (2004, 2006) and six chapters in The Largest Avian Radiation: The Evolution Of Perching Birds, or The Order Passeriformes (2020). Together with Paul Donald, he is currently writing a handbook to the larks of the world (to be completed soon). He has been involved in descriptions of seven species and three subspecies of birds new to science. Per is advisor to the IOC World Bird List, a former member Working Group Avian Checklists (now AviList), and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the international ornithological journal Avian Research.
The Cornell Lab Of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
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