Wolfe Laboratory at Michigan Technological University

Changes in tropical functional diversity

Published Research - August 2022

We used banding data to show that ecologically similar birds go extinct in forest fragments and primary forest subject to climate change. 

Habitat quality of oil palm for migratory birds 

Published Research - May 2022

We used demographic assortments of migrants to measure relative differences in the habitat quality of oil palm and native forest for migratory birds.

Niche partitioning of Amazonian Woodcreepers

Published Research - March 2022

Explorations in the foraging ecology and behavior of woodcreepers to answer a simple question: how can multiple and seemingly similar species occur in sympatry?

Global database of avian functional traits

Published Research - February 2022

Biodiversity Initiative contributed key African banding data to a global dataset of avian functional traits. 

New book on understory birds

Published Book - December 2021

Jared contributed two chapters to a new book titled Elusive Birds of the Tropical Understory. You can find more on the publisher's website and Amazon. 

Physiological changes in Amazonian birds

Published Research - November 2021

How does climate change affect the physiology of Amazonian birds? Check out our collaborative research to find out. 

Towards a global system of categorizing bird age

Published Research - November 2021

Latest improvements to the WRP age classification system to make it more precise and user friendly. 

Effects of road development on Afrotopical birds

Published Research - September 2021

Study detailing the effects of road development on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, on the species richness and functional diversity of birds.

Nara banding station is open

Field activities - May 2021

We began bird banding operations at the Nara Nature Park, our newest avian monitoring station. Located within a few minutes from MTU, our Nara station provides wildlife students an opportunity to learn hands-on techniques right in Houghton.

Shifting baselines in Amazonia

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Published research - March 2021

Long term monitoring reveals a shifting bird community in remote Amazonian forest. Read more in our latest contribution in Ecology Letters.

Avian conservation in African cocoa farms

Published research - February 2021

How do bird communities differ between cacao farms and pristine forest? Learn the answer to this question in our latest article in Journal of Applied Ecology.

Neotropical migrants in Mexican oil palm

Published research - February 2021

Oil palm agriculture continues to expand throughout Latin America. In this study, we aimed to determine if overwintering migrant birds use oil palm farms in Mexico. Access our article in the Journal of Field Ornithology. 

Adaptive significance of avian molt in the Neotropics

Published research - January 2021

White-plumed antbirds are the slowest molting songbird on earth. What selective pressures led to this and other unique molt patterns? Learn the answer to this and other molt related questions in our contribution in Ornithology. 

Photo essay published on bird & molt research in the Wolfe Lab

Published research - December 2020

Explore the colors of songbird migration in a photo essay and unscripted interview that displays the ways distance and timing affect plumage.

Effects of fragmentation on Amazonian bird survival

Published research - November 2020

How does fragmentation influence bird survival in the Amazon? Learn how in our latest contribution in Avian Research. 

Migrant habitat ecology on the wintering grounds

Published research - October 2020

Collaborative review focused on the habitat ecology of overwintering migrants in Central and South America published in Ornithological Applications.

Measuring site fidelity among molting songbirds

Published research - September 2020

Tackling a difficult question: do migratory songbirds exhibit site fidelity to molting grounds? Learn more by reading our latest contribution in Ornithology.