Santiago David

Tropical mountains harbour exceptionally high biodiversity with most species restricted to narrow elevational distributions. Deforestation and climate change negatively impact ranges of montane tropical birds, with upslope shifts as the main elevational response to warming temperatures. These two pressures are particularly important for species restricted to mountaintops, such as in Paramos, where abiotic conditions are harsher and upslope movements are limited. Paramo is a diverse and poorly known high elevation ecosystem in the Andean region that provides invaluable ecosystem services to human populations. Paramos serve as the main source of water for many Andean cities and are under growing threat from deforestation, mining activities and climate change. Bird species restricted to this ecosystem could face an unprecedented crisis due to the combined effects of climate change and local fragmentation, and our ability to predict community responses to these pressures depends on detailed knowledge of the Paramo ecosystem. My research will combine field data and experiments with information on species distributions and phylogenetic relationships to (1) characterize the composition and biogeographic history of Paramo bird communities, (2) evaluate physiological adaptations of Paramo species to harsh environmental conditions, and (3) identify behavioral responses of Paramo birds to potential competitors and predators under predicted upslope expansions of lower elevational species. This information will have important conservation implications globally by providing critical information on responses of high elevation species to climate change, and in Colombia, by identifying areas and strategies for conserving biodiversity