Conservation Ecology Lab
@ UC Santa Cruz
Overview
The Conservation Ecology Lab is based at the University of California, Santa Cruz led by Principal Investigator Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela. Our goal is to guide conservation of global biodiversity—with an emphasis on tropical regions and birds—, using the best possible science, seeking solutions that also benefit communities, and with a lens on equity and inclusion.
We use field observations, community science data (e.g. eBird), socio-economic information, and spatial datasets to quantify anthropogenic impacts on bird habitats, identify regions and species in need of conservation action, and guide priorities for conservation and restoration action. Though much of the research we do is global, we have a strong focus on tropical regions, and particularly Latin America. Our lab focuses on studying birds, though the methods we employ can be used for any taxon with sufficient and appropriate data.
Photo: Ezra Garfield
Global Change Ecology
Spatial Ecology
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Improving bird distributions
Range maps for tropical birds often suffer from omission (leaving important areas out) and commission errors (including areas of unsuitable habitat), and they are often outdated. We use a combination of expert knowledge, community science data (e.g. eBird), and ecoregions to improve distributions of tropical birds, with a focus on Colombia's avifauna. We produce range and Area of Habitat maps and periodically update and improve them as new information becomes available.
Differences in IUCN produced range maps and known eBird occurrence for three Colombian bird species . Source: Suárez-Castro et al., 2024.
Habitat connectivity map for the Pileated Woodpecker produced using the EcoScape algorithm
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Modeling habitat connectivity
Understanding how fragmentation affects species distributions and where conservation would have the greatest impact on many species requires accurate knowledge of habitat connectivity. We work on developing tools that allow mapping of functional habitat connectivity using open data (see EcoScape Python package and paper). We use this algotirhm to assess the state of connectivity for suites of species, as well as guide future conservation and restoration investments that would enhance animal movement and increase species' resilience to environmental change.
Projects
- Development of the EcoScape habitat connectivity algorithm (Natalia, Monte - Preprint)
- California Futures: Scenario-Based Support for Climate-Resilient Conservation Decisions (Natalia, Blessing)
- Assessing habitat connectivity for African birds (Natalia, Mushtaaq, Blessing, Monte)
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Conservation assessment and priorities
We use species distribution data, field observations, and habitat connectivity to assess the state of bird conservation to identify and map conservation priorities in tropical regions. Our research involves quantifying the role of different conservation actors (e.g. National Parks, Afro descendant communities, Indigenous Peoples) in protecting global biodiversity; identifying gaps in in protection; and guiding future conservation decisions. This information can be used by decision makers in governments, and the non-government sector at local to global scales.
Bivariate maps of species diversity and functional diversity metrics for Colombian birds. Source: Neate-Clegg et al., 2025.
Projects
- Spatial congruence in diversity and functional diversity metrics for Colombian birds (Monte, Natalia-Paper)
- Highlighting the importance of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities for bird diversity in Colombia (Julián)
Human-Bird Dynamics
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Global patterns of birdwatching tourism
We are interested in understanding where and why people go birdwatching, and how those activity patterns can influence conservation and improve economic development in rural tropical regions. Using eBird data, we study birder behavior to uncover patterns of birdwatching activity and identify places with unrealized birdwatching potential (see our global paper here).
Bivariate map of bird capital and the eBirding tourism in 155 countries. Source: Ocampo-Peñuela et al., 2025.
Herrera family: stewards of the Cundinamarca Antpitta and owners of the Sendero de la Herrería Birding lodge in alliance with Fundación Camaná.
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Socio-economic benefits of birdwatching tourism
When following equitable and sustainable practices, birdwatching tourism can provide socio-economic benefits to local communities who share their habitat with birds of conservation concern. We use socio-economic data, surveys, and interviews to quantify the socio-economic benefits of birdwatching tourism on local communities who offer this service in tropical countries. Our lab has studied these benefits for families who offer antpitta feeding, as well as for birdwatching tourism guides. You can listen to an overview of this research theme in this TEDx Talk.
Projects
-Economic and Social dimensions of antpitta feeding in the Northern Andes (Ezra)
- Social and economic dimensions of bird guides in Colombia (Ezra)
- Benefits and pitfalls of tropical birdwatching tourism (CEL)
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Conservation benefits of birdwatching tourism
Birdwatching tourism, when developed in equitable and bird-centered ways, has the potential to drive conservation. Birders want to see endemic and rare birds, and those are the same species in need of conservation, and for those birds to exist and be shown to tourists there must be good habitat available. Using data from eBird and species distributions, as well as satellite images, we strive to document the conservation impact of birdwatching tourism operations in the tropics.
Global distribution of antpittas in the family Grallaridae (n=75). Source: Ezra Garfield.
Projects
- Conservation outcomes on birdwatching tourism sites compared to their alternative (Ezra)
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Patterns of community science data collection
We study the socio-economic drivers behind the observed distributions of community science in urban and rural places. The inequity in green space access in cities, for example, is reflected in the amount and spatial arrangement of community science observations like iNaturalist reports and eBird checklists.
Community of birdwatchers during an outing in rural China. Source: Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela.
Projects
- Drivers of community science data in tropical cities (Mushtaaq)
Global Change Ecology
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Colombia Resurvey Project
This collaboration with Colombian ornithologists uses resurveys of sites historically surveyed by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in Colombia to document bird responses to 100+ years of landcover and climate change. Simultaneously, we aim to propose and model an alternative expedition design that is more equitable, inclusive, and community-engaged.
Projects
- Bird community responses to 100+ years of landcover change (Natalia)
- Bird morphological changes in Barbacoas, Nariño (Monte, Natalia - Paper)
- Bird morphological changes in all resurvey sites (Monte, Natalia)
- Key practices for inclusive scientific expeditions (Natalia - Comment and Paper)
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Uplifting women explorers: Kerr resurvey
Elizabeth L. Kerr was a woman naturalist who collected birds in Colombia as a freelance worker for the AMNH, though her legacy had not been recognized until recently. Our team aims to uncover the story of Kerr, resurvey the sites of her ornithological collections in the Colombian Chocó, and use her and our story to empower girl and women explorers everywhere.
Projects
- Uplifting Elizabeth L. Kerr's ornithological legacy (Natalia - Paper)
- Uncovering Kerr's life story (Collaboration with Prof. Lily Ballofet of LALS)
- Resurvey of Kerr's ornithological sites (Natalia)
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Younger Lagoon bird trends
The Younger Lagoon bird banding station at UCSC has been operating since the 1980s. Our lab collaborates with the station to use the long-term monitoring data to document changes in bird populations and phenology at the reserve, including as the result of an extensive restoration effort at the lagoon. Our PI serves as faculty sponsor for undergraduate interns banding at the station, and our graduate students engage with the bird banding and data to answer scientific questions.
Projects
- Bird assemblage changes over time at Younger Lagoon (Ezra)
Photo: Ezra Garfield