Species Monograph

Species Monograph: Your paper must be a species monograph that details the biology of one species and that species’ closest relatives.  A species will be assigned to you.  Detailed instructions that cover style, formatting, and required content will be posted to Blackboard.  Instructions on submitting drafts will also be posted to Blackboard.

To get an idea of what a species monograph is, see the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of North America free sample accounts at:

https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/home

Please note that the Cornell Lab’s sample accounts are excessively detailed; your paper does not require this much detail.  Your overall goal should be to assemble an informative species account that includes:

– General ecology of your species’ family and a physical description of your species

– Specific ecology of your species, its conservation status, and its significance

– Status and distribution in the US and in New Jersey using the three data bases listed below

Please refer to the outline, figure guidelines, and rubric for all required content!

Specific database sources: 

eBird                                                   https://ebird.org/home

Christmas Bird Count (CBC)             http://netapp.audubon.org/cbcobservation/

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)             https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/

Your monograph should include the following analyses from each data base:

Analysis from eBird:

– 4 distribution maps: World, USA, US East Coast, and New Jersey!

– 1 yearly population trend graph for New Jersey or USA (under “Line Graphs”)

Analysis from Christmas Bird Count:

–  1 population trend graph for New Jersey or USA from 1900 to present

Analysis from Breeding Bird Survey

– 1 population trend map for the lower 48 United States and Canada

Presentation: Your presentation must summarize your written paper.  It must be given orally as a PowerPoint presentation with a 15-minute time limit.