ABSTRACT BOOK Listed alphabetically by first author. ORAL PRESENTATIONS .............................................................................. 1 POSTERS ......................................................................................................... 70 unexpected finding was that some predators accessed nest contents by removing the lids and that this occurred most often ORAL PRESENTATIONS in the boxes with the entrance extension. Future research should determine whether greasing the tube decreases Coevolution in action: Defenses against brood parasitism predation further. This study demonstrates that predator in new and old hosts of the Eastern Koel guards are effective in reducing predation of nests in artificial cavities. Virginia Abernathy - Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capitol Territory, Australia; Naomi Langmore - Monitoring the over-winter survival of Neotropical Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital migrants in Mexico: History of the MoSI Program, and a Territory, Australia plan for the future Avian brood parasitism is a model example of coevolution, yet Steven Albert - The Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes measuring the rate at which coevolution takes place between a Station, CA, United States brood parasite and its host is difficult, as parasites rarely switch to completely naïve hosts. In Australia, the brood The Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal (MoSI) / Monitoring parasitic Eastern Koel (Eudynamis orientalis) recently switched Over-winter Survival Program is an international network of to a new host, the Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), collaborators, whose members coordinate bird banding efforts providing a rare opportunity to observe coevolution in action. in the northern Neotropics. Since 2002, the program has We compare the evolution of defenses in the new host with facilitated the participation of more than 200 stations in 15 those of traditional hosts at two sites with different durations countries. Mexico has had, by far, the longest participation and of parasitism by the koel: Sydney (~37 years) and Canberra greatest number of stations. The MoSI network provides (~7 years). Specifically, we test 1) which hosts have evolved the information on the population status of many migrant and ability to reject foreign eggs, and 2) whether koels have evolved Mexican resident species that are used to develop conservation mimicry of host eggs. Model egg rejection experiments show strategies, and helps answer important questions such as: What that the traditional hosts are expert egg rejecters, whereas the factors influence the persistence of individuals during the new host has not evolved egg rejection at either site, indicating winter? Where do we see the worst effects during the winter that 37 years of parasitism is insufficient time for egg rejection nesting? What factors intuit more about the population decline to evolve. However, wattlebirds in Sydney were significantly of certain species? What is the relationship between population more likely to abandon their nests in response to disturbance changes related to climatic conditions and habitat loss? What than those in Canberra, which may be an early stage in the can we do to reverse these declines? The MoSI program also evolution of defenses. We used objective measures of color to helps train biologists from both the U.S. and Mexico, and has determine if egg rejection by hosts has selected for egg mimicry been a source of scientific and cross-cultural exchange. While in koels. Koel eggs from wattlebird nests in Sydney appeared vigorous and successful for over a decade, in recent years, the more similar to Sydney wattlebird eggs than to the eggs of their program has lost much participation, largely due to federal or traditional hosts or Canberra wattlebirds. This result is NGO budget constraints on both sides of the border. However, puzzling considering the lack of rejection response shown by scientists from the U.S. and Mexico are determined to revitalize wattlebirds, but could be a counteradaptation to nest MoSI. We will provide a brief history of the program, and a abandonment by wattlebirds. This study provides important vision for moving MoSI successfully forward in the 21st information on how quickly hosts and parasites can adapt, Century. which can be used in fields such as conservation and speciation. Mapping and modeling lethal dehydration in desert Effectiveness of predator guards on nest boxes for House passerines: Conservation and climate change implications Wrens Thomas Albright - University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, United Megan Ahrns - The Ohio State University at Lima, Fort Loramie, States OH, United States; Jacqueline Augustine - The Ohio State High temperature extremes have a variety of direct and indirect University at Lima, Lima, OH, United States effects on birds, including large scale mortality. Dehydration is Predation limits reproduction and survival in many animals. a major mechanism of heat-related mortality. With the Some bird species protect their eggs by laying them in cavities frequency and severity of high temperature extremes that prevent predators from accessing the nest. Nesting boxes increasing, it is important to understand where and when die- are often used to increase the nesting opportunities for cavity- offs can be expected to occur. Here, we explore the dynamics nesting birds, but they are susceptible to predators. I tested the and spatial patterns of current and future dehydration risk to effectiveness of three types of predator guards relative to a dessert passerines in the US Southwest. For a suite of seven control (no predator guard): an extension of the entrance to passerines, we asked: What are rates of evaporative water loss prevent predators from reaching into the nest box, a tube (EWL) across range of temperatures? How frequently, over which prevents predators from getting a grip on the pole, and a what areas, and at what intensity does dangerous dehydration funnel which predators cannot proceed past. Thirty nest boxes occur? How does body size influence dehydration risk? And of each type (control, extension, tube, and funnel) were how will a warmer climate affect frequency and intensity of distributed equally among a wooded area, a golf course, and a dangerous dehydration? We developed models of EWL and park (120 nest boxes total). Nest boxes had a 3-cm diameter lethal dehydration risk from measured rates of EWL in heat- entrance hole which allowed House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) acclimated birds captured in the field. We then mapped and to enter, but excluded most other cavity-nesting species. House modeled the distribution and frequency of dehydration risk wrens attempted nests in all predator guard types equally. The using the North American Land Data Assimilation System tube predator guard had the greatest proportion of nests that dataset for the period 1980-2013 at a 14-km spatial grain. We successfully fledged at least one offspring; whereas, wrens also explored the implications of a 4°C warming scenario, nesting in control boxes were the least successful. An consistent with projections for 2070-2100. We found that 1 smaller-bodied birds, with higher mass-specific rates of water City, Mexico; Alejandra Salazar - Pronatura México, A.C., Mexico loss, are more susceptible to lethal dehydration. While milder City, Mexico dehydration conditions are frequently encountered in the US In 2014, the Mexican government announced the construction Southwest today, more intense conditions are extremely rare of the new international airport of Mexico City (NAICM) in Lake for larger bodied passerines and limited in spatial extent for Texcoco, which is located northeast of the Valley of Mexico and smaller birds. The warming scenario produced dramatic represents the largest remnant of a lake (about 7% of the increases in the frequency, extent, and intensity of dehydration. original surface) that once covered the region. Given the claim These results suggest a need for conservation professionals to that the NAICM will not affect the biodiversity value of the zone consider the effects of hot extremes on desert birds and and that wetland area will be duplicated as compensation, we promote adaptive measures, including conservation of thermal assessed the ecological and conservation status, threats and refugia and the provision of water sources. management effectiveness of the zone using the Western A Mexican avian thematic network (MATNet) for Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) evaluation conservation guide as well as bird counts conducted from 1996 to present. Our evaluation indicates that the project is incompatible with Jose Luis Alcantara - Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco, bird conservation. However, if the plan continues, the following Mexico; Raul Ortiz-Pulido - Universidad Autonoma del Estado considerations should be acknowledged: the loss of a unique de Hidalgo, Mexico wetland (epicontinental soda lake) of international importance Mexico with about 1,100 bird species is ranked worldwide 8th (recognized as IBA and WHSRN site); the project’s among top biodiversity countries, 14th due to its territory size, incompatibility with land suitability and its conflict with the and 11th because of its population size. Currently, 296 avian Federal Government's commitment to bioconservation; the species, and 96 subspecies are considered nationally at risk (10 need for a strict implementation of the Business and species probably extinct),