Birds are key consumers in forest systems that provide regulating ecosystem services by consuming herbivorous invertebrates, thereby reducing tree damage caused by pest outbreaks

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education, operating as University of Nevada, Reno, $120,000 on May 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program to forecast bird population dynamics in forest ecosystems and their role in controlling herbivorous invertebrate pests in the Northern Sierra Nevada.

The project integrates long-term bird breeding data and invertebrate abundance data to identify current ecological responses in the region and predict future bird population dynamics to inform forest health assessments and targeted conservation plans. The research develops skills in analyzing and interpreting invertebrate population and bird breeding datasets and builds ecological forecasting expertise to be shared with scientists and managers. The work falls under AFRI's Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment priority area.

Performance occurs in Reno, Nevada, with a period of performance through May 14, 2028.

Forecasting bird population dynamics is valuable for the conservation of forest resources. This project, which falls under the afri program area priority bioenergy, natural resources, and environment, utilizes long-term bird breeding data and detailed invertebrate abundance data to identify current ecological responses in the northern sierra nevada. Futher, these data will be used to predict future bird population dynamics to understand forest health. Throughout this project, the PD will develop critical skills in analyzing and interpreting invertebrate population and bird breeding datasets. The PD will gain valuable ecological forecasting experience that will be shared with scientists and managers to inform targeted conservation plans. As long-term data on ecosystems becomes more available, the skills and knowledge gained from projects such as this become increasingly important.