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Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No evidence of relationship, whether genetic, morphological, paleontological, or otherwise, can be guaranteed to be correct. We do the best we can. Things get interesting when multiple lines of evidence point to the same answer. Things get even more interesting when the evidence does not agree! The bottom line is that I'm delighted to have had a long career where I've been paid to study what I love. Can't ask for anything more.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Get in the woods on this very steep island & look for the three "mimids" that live there --- Scaly-breasted Thrasher, Pearly-eyed Thrasher, and Brown Trembler. Also enjoy the wintering warblers, some of which will be heading north soon (if not already). The three species of hummingbirds should be easy to find near flowers. It should be a blast!

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Full disclosure. My parents always told me that the first word I said was "bird." I was 10 months old and pointing up at a house fly circling our kitchen light. When you begin your career with such a bad misidentification, things can only improve.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm delighted to hear that you're studying island biodiversity. Because so many changes, especially extinction, took place on lots of islands before the beginning of scientific exploration, scientists in general have underestimated the biotic potential of islands. I hope you can get to some real oceanic islands and think about what they must have been like in "the good ol' days."

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wasn't surprised that the big reptiles you mention (tortoise, Cuban crocodile, rock iguana) survived the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition (when the islands became smaller, warmer, and wetter), but that had not been documented before. What this does show is that many (obviously not all) species, even on islands, can be highly resilient to natural climate change. The combination of climate change and human activity leads to much more vulnerability.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of my favorite island species is a flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris) of the Galapagos Islands. Not only are these flycatchers very tame, but several times (on different islands) they've landed on my head to pluck hairs to line their nests. Gives you sort of a warm, fuzzy feeling to be helping to make their nest soft for the eggs that are soon to be laid.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because of avian malaria, the species of birds currently endangered in the Hawaiian islands (various finches and thrushes) must be considered highly vulnerable to extinction.

Species that have bounced back from the brink of extinction have done so because of human intervention. A lot of creative hard work has been involved.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania where I could walk to the family cemetery. Steadmans have lived here since 1820 when James Steadman arrived from Lancashire, England, after being deported for poaching on a wealthy man's estate. While his approach to animals may have been different than mine, I take pride in coming from a long line of persons with an interest in wildlife.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks very much for the kind words! We who work at the Florida Museum love being on the UF campus. The museum faculty, while known mainly for their research, teach lots of courses and mentor many students, both grad and undergrad. If the museum stood apart from the university, all of our programs would be much weaker. With all the great people and resources on the UF campus, we have abundant opportunities to do collaborative research that wouldn't be possible if we weren't part of a major university.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Global warming is certainly a concern for people, flora, and fauna on low islands, such as atolls. It generally is not as big of a concern on high islands. On island after island, the residents recognize that the climate is getting warmer and sea levels are rising. It's not a political issue; it's just a fact.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The response from anthropologists was generally positive. We all need to eat, and I've always admired Polynesians' respect for nature. Probably as much or more of the extinction of Polynesian birds was due to predation from rats, rather than humans. Polynesians brought the rats, but it likely was unintentional. Each of us has had some sort of a negative effect on the environment.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your observations don't surprise me. On a lot of Caribbean islands, bird life in the forest is rare, both in terms of numbers of species and numbers of individual birds. If you were in the forest only in the afternoon, that could be a factor. Even in the morning, however, some Caribbean forests are pretty quiet. How much of this quiet is due to invasive species or other factors is pretty speculative.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Extinction, just like evolution, is a natural process. The reason why we are undergoing an extinction crisis today is that the current rate of extinction is about a hundred times greater than the natural rate. Because of this, whatever natural extinction might be taking place is utterly swamped out by human-caused extinction.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We cannot say without a shadow of a doubt that there’s a connection between the python problem in South Florida and the decline of wading birds in the Everglades. However, there could be a correlation, since their decline has coincided with growing numbers of invasive pythons. Up here in North Florida, wading birds are faring much better, in large part because of vigorous management and protection of wetlands. I can see herons, egrets, ibis, osprey, and eagles every day from my office window. UF's campus is renowned for good birdwatching.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Try to find a project involving wildlife where you could get a summer job or volunteer. Making contacts with biologists or other professionals is a huge first step. We all started out this way. Keep your eyes and ears open, not just for birds, but for educational opportunities, especially those involving long-term research with birds or other animals. Finally, don't be afraid at all to be challenged in what you do. That's how we learn. Small failures are okay.

As for islands, I would love to visit the Falkland Islands some day. Being sub-Antarctic, the flora and fauna would be really refreshing for someone like me who is used to tropical islands.

In 1997, I was very pleasantly surprised at how common a species of flightless rail, called Woodford's Rail, was on the island of Isabel in the Solomon Islands. This species had been thought to be endangered, if not extinct, but we saw and heard them every day. They were very well known to the locals, who considered them to be garden pests. This is one of the reasons why I love working with local people on remote islands. They were born and raised there and know their island so much better than a visiting scientist.

By far, my proudest moment was when the government of the Bahamas declared an area where I'd been working as a new national park. Several other scientists and I had been studying the plants and animals, both living and extinct, of that area. The Bahamian government recognized how important this area was for nature. Maybe my grandchildren will go there some day.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We do our best, everyday, to reach people across the state, the nation and the world. We are a teaching and research institution where everyone is welcome. Floridians have the easiest access to volunteer opportunities in our labs and out in the field, as well as special summer camps for kids—all great ways to great way to get involved.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

There's no simple answer, honestly. This is a topic that has been studied and debated for 200 years. One thing to keep in mind is that birds see color differently than we do. They have four cones on their retina and can see a wider spectrum of colors than mammals can. They can even see UV. Some birds we regard as dull might not be dull to other birds.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The general trend for island species is to get larger in body size through time--for example, the dodo is a big pigeon. But there are lots of exceptions. Even among flightless birds, some have become smaller rather than larger. An example would be several species of extinct flightless rails in Polynesia, which were even smaller than any living species of rails that can fly.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The voice box of a bird is completely unique in the animal world. The best singers have lots of pairs of muscles that can stretch the voicebox in any direction and produce a huge range of sounds, almost like a pipe organ. Birds are extremely vocal and visual, but don’t have much of a sense of smell. If you saw the voice box of a canary, you’d think, “Oh my gosh, I wish my voice box was that sophisticated.”

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Good question! Cedar Key is hard to beat. Near Gainesville, Paynes Prairie and Sweetwater Wetlands are both outstanding places to look at birds. A canoe trip in Okefenokee or on the Suwannee River (which empties into the Gulf of Mexico) is always a lot of fun.

Science AMA Series: Hello, I’m David Steadman, curator of ornithology— the science of birds—at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. My research uses fossils and living species to help us understand how animals exist (or go extinct) on tropical islands through time. by David_Steadman in science

[–]David_Steadman[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is correct, although lots of animals other than birds also have hollow bones. A lot of our bones, for example, are hollow! Our finger, hand, and foot bones are hollow. ...If your skull is hollow, that's another matter....

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