Jared Wolfe, associate professor for the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, made Michigan Tech News headlines on our Unscripted Research Blog last year with his eye-catching subjects and jaw-dropping discoveries. This year, his research into the cause of bird declines in the Neotropics is the focus of a recently published feature article in Science magazine, “Fading Melodies.”
“It’s an honor to have the scientific media outlet of record interested in your work,” said Wolfe. “The fact that they are making it a featured article is even more exciting. Honestly, tropical bird declines have not received the attention they should, and I am glad Science is dedicating the resources to cover this issue.”
Wolfe is no stranger to the spotlight — his research has previously been featured in Audubon magazine and The Guardian multiple times — but says publication in Science represents a “pinnacle of research exposure.” He spent a week in the Amazon with Science reporter Warren Cornwall to provide information for the story. The feature highlights his innovative irrigation experiment in the central Amazon, designed to identify the climatic drivers of pervasive, unexplained bird population declines across multiple sites across the Neotropics.
“We developed an irrigation experiment in the Amazon, watering pristine forest to measure the multifaceted responses of birds, mammals, and insects,” said Wolfe. “The experiment is bold, and the results are compelling.”
Wolfe’s research indicates the declines may reflect changes in climate, such as increasingly severe dry seasons. Read the full Science article for details on his experiment and findings.
