Catherine A. Lindell

Associate Professor

Ph.D., Harvard University, 1994

278 Giltner
Office Telephone: 517-353-9874
lindellc@msu.edu
Research website

Ecology, Conservation Biology, Tropical Biology

My primary research interests include the effects of land-cover change on the ecology and behavior of birds. In recently published work I examined whether land-cover models explaining the abundance and richness of bird groups in southern Costa Rica were applicable to central Costa Rica, i.e. how generalizable are models developed from one tropical area to another area? Other recent work focuses on documenting the patterns of recovery of assemblages of birds using sites that were previously abandoned pasture and are now undergoing forest restoration. How quickly do the assemblages approach those found in primary forest and how do local-scale factors and the surrounding landscape influence the speed and trajectory of the recovery? Members of my lab are also investigating the mechanisms that influence how and how successfully birds use sites undergoing restoration by conducting studies of foraging behavior and success.

Representative Publications

Kaiser, S.A. and C.A. Lindell. In press. Effects of distance to edge and edge type on nestling growth and nest survival in the Wood Thrush. The Condor.

Lindell, C.A., S. Riffell, S.A. Kaiser, A. Battin*, M.L. Smith, and T.D. Sisk. In press. Edge responses of tropical and temperate birds. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

Lindell, C. A., W.H. Chomentowski, J.R. Zook, and S.A. Kaiser. 2006. Generalizability of neotropical bird abundance and richness models. Animal Conservation 9: 445-455.

Cohen, E.B. and C.A. Lindell. 2005. Habitat use of adult White-throated Robins (Turdus assimilis) during the breeding season in a mosaic landscape in Costa Rica. The Journal of Field Ornithology 76: 279-286.

Lindell, C.A., W. H. Chomentowski, and J. R. Zook. 2004. Characteristics of bird species using forest and agricultural land covers in southern Costa Rica. Biodiversity and Conservation 13:2419-2441.