John G. Blake, Associate Professor, Biology 
John G. Blake, Associate Professor, Biology Email: blakej@msx.umsl.edu
B.A. Prescott College, Prescott, Arizona. May 1974.
M.S. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. May 1977.
Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. January 1983.
Research Interests
My research focuses on the structure and organization of bird communities, in both tropical (e.g. Ecuador) and temperate (Missouri) forests. I am particularly interested in the impact of resource abundance (e.g., fruit) on temporal and spatial variation in bird populations, spatial patterns of diversity, and effects of habitat alterations (e.g., forest fragmentation, prescribed burning ) on bird populations. The current focus of tropical work is in Ecuador, at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (~0o 38' S, 76o 08' W), where we have several ongoing projects. One project focuses on spatial and temporal patterns of bird diversity (as well as aspects of community composition, population dynamics, and movement) within and between two 100-ha study plots. The Station was established in 1994 by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito on a tract of undisturbed forest within the ha Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. We established the two 100-ha plots in terra firme forest in February 2001. (A protocol has been established for use of these plots for other researchers.) We use a combination of mist nets and direct observations to record the occurrence and locations of birds within the two plots. All captures and observations are spatially referenced (i.e., geographic coordinates are recorded) for incorporation into a geographic information system (GIS) database for spatial analyses. These data will allow us to compare spatial patterns of diversity at various scales both within and between plots at TBS and between TBS and other sites in the neotropics. Over time, we also will be able to compare changes in the bird communities at TBS as well as address questions related to population dynamics (e.g., survival rates). A second major project focuses on reproductive success in manakins (Pipridae). We are also collaborating with Jaime Guerra, station manager at TBS, to develop a monitoring program for large mammals at the station. The project involves transects counts and camera traps , with traps established along trails, on the plots, and at saltlicks. Students in my lab represent a range of countries (Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela); they are conducting research on a variety of topics (see below under students).
Teaching
Courses taught at UM-St. Louis (currently) include Ornithology, Wildlife Conservation and Ecology, Tropical Ecology and Conservation, and Biometry. In addition, I teach courses through Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina. For the past two summer I have taught (with Piter Blendinger) Ecología y Conservación de Aves en el Cono Sur, a two-week field-based course that visits several sites in northwestern Argentina. Fifteen students from 7 countries were in each of the courses.
Selected Publications
2007 - Loiselle, B. A., J. G. Blake, R. Durães, T. B. Ryder, and W. P. Tori. Environmental and spatial segregation of leks among siz co-occurring species of manakins (Aves: Pipridae) in eastern Ecuador. Auk 124: in press.
2007 - Loiselle, B. A., P. Blendinger, J. G. Blake, and T. B. Ryder. Ecological redundancy in seed dispersal systems: a comparison between manakins (Aves: Pipridae) in two tropical forests. Pp. Xxx-xxx in A. J. Dennis, E. W. Schupp, R. Green, and D. W. Westcott, editors. Seed Dispersal: Theory and its Application in a Changing World. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
2006 - Piratelli, A., and J. G. Blake. Bird communities of the southeastern cerrado region, Brazil. Ornitologia Neotropical 17:213-226.
2006 - Ryder, T. B., J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. A test of the environmental hotspot hypothesis for lek placement in three species of manakins. Auk 123:247-258.
2004 - Blake, J. G. Effects of prescribed burning on distribution and abundance of birds in a closed-canopy oak-dominated forest, Missouri, USA. Biological Conservation 121:519-431..
2002 - Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Habitat use, movements, and survival of manakins (Pipridae) in second-growth and old-growth forests. Auk 119: 132-148. Pdf file
2001 - Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Bird assemblages in second-growth and old-growth forests, Costa Rica: Perspectives from mist nets and point counts. Auk 118:304-326. Pdf file
2001 - Graham, C. H., and J. G. Blake. The influence of patch and landscape level factors on bird assemblages in a fragmented tropical landscape. Ecological Applications 11: 1709-1721. Pdf file
2001 - Rougès, M., and J. G. Blake. Tasas de captura y dietas de aves del sotobosque en el Parque Biológico Sierra de San Javier, Tucumán. El Hornero 16:7-15. Pdf file
2001 - Loiselle, B. A., and J. G. Blake. Potential consequences of extinction of frugivorous birds for shrubs of a tropical wet forest. Pp. 397-405 in D. J. Levey, W. R. Silva, and M. Galetti (eds.), Frugivory and seed dispersal: perspectives of biodiversity and conservation. CAB International Press, Cambridge. Pdf file
2000 - Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Diversity of birds along an elevational gradient in the Cordillera Central, Costa Rica. Auk 117:663-686. Pdf file
2000 - Blake, J. G., and B. Schuette. Restoration of an oak forest in east-central Missouri: early effects of prescribed burning on woody vegetation. Forest Ecology and Management 139:109-126. Pdf file
1999 - Loiselle, B.A., and J. G. Blake. Dispersal of melastome seeds by fruit-eating birds of tropical forest understory. Ecology 80:330-336. Pdf file
1998 - Calvo, L., and J. G. Blake. Bird diversity and abundance on two different shade coffee plantations in Guatemala. Bird Conservation International 8:297-308. Pdf file
1998 - Blake, J. G., and M. R. Rougès. Variation in capture rates of understory birds in El Rey National Park, northwestern Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical 8:185-193. Pdf file
1997 - Renjifo, L. M., G. P. Servat, J. M. Goerck, B. A. Loiselle, and J. G. Blake. Patterns of species composition and endemism in the northern neotropics: a case for conservation of montane avifaunas. Ornithological Monographs 48:577-594.
1996 - Hanowski, J.M., G. J. Niemi, and J. G. Blake. Responses of breeding and migrating birds to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Ecological Applications 6:910-919. Abstract
1995 - Faaborg, J., M. Brittingham, T. Donovan, and J. Blake. Habitat fragmentation in the in the temperate zone. Pages 357-380 in T. E. Martin and D. M. Finch, eds., Ecology and management of neotropical migratory birds. Oxford University Press, NY.
1995 - Petit, D. R., J. F. Lynch, R. L. Hutto, J. G. Blake, and R. B. Waide. Habitat use and conservation in the neotropics. Pages 145-197 in T. E. Martin and D. M. Finch, eds., Ecology and management of neotropical migratory birds. Oxford University Press, NY.
Post-doctoral Associates
Pedro Blendinger, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecológicas de las Yungas, Argentina.
Augusto Piratelli, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
Current Graduate Students
Adrián Azpiroz (Uruguay), Ph.D. The effects of habitat loss on community structure and reproductive success of pampas grassland birds. (abavg5@studentmail.umsl.edu)
Cintia Cornelius (Chile), Ph.D. Genetic and demographic consequences of human-driven landscape changes on birds: a case study using Aphrastura spinicauda and Scelorchilus rubecula. (cc697@studentmail.umsl.edu)
Marcos Maldonado-Coehlo (Brasil), Ph.D. Systematics, biogeography and population genetics of Fire-eye Antbirds (Thamnophilidae, Aves) in the Neotropics.. (mmc8v5@studentmail.umsl.edu)
Adriana Rodríguez Ferraro (Venezuela), Ph.D.Community ecology and phylogeography of bird assemblages in arid zones of northern Venezuela. (arppf@studentmail.umsl.edu)
Brandt Ryder (USA), Ph.D. Understanding coordinated display in a lek breeding bird: function, maintenance, and fitness. (pipridae@umsl.edu)
Former Students
Iván Jiménez (Colombia), Ph.D., 2004. Understanding vertebrate frugivores through foraging theory.
Lucio R. Malizia (Argentina), Ph.D., 2004. Diversity and distribution of tree species in subtropical Andean forests.
Mercedes Rougès (Argentina), Ph.D., 2003. Bird community dynamics along an elevational gradient in subtropical montane forests.
Jorge Pérez-Eman (Venezuela), Ph.D., 2002. Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of the genus Myioborus (Aves, Parulinae)
Frank Wolff (Luxembourg), M.S. 2001. Vertebrate ecology in caatinga: A. Distribution of wildlife in relation to water. B. Diet of pumas (P. concolor) and relative abundance of felids.
Luzmilla Arroyo (Bolivia), M.S., 2001. Plant communities in continuous forest and isolated forest patches on the Serranía de Huanchaca, Bolivia.
Catherine Graham (USA), Ph.D., 2000. Individual, species and community level responses of birds to forest fragmentation in southern Mexico.
Gillian Bowser (USA), Ph.D., 1998 (co-advisor). Genetics, geographics, and prairie dogs: a landscape model of prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) dispersal.
Lucio Malizia (Argentina), 1998. Variacion estacional de la avifauna en un relicto de selvas pedemontañas de la Provincia de Tucumán. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. (co-director, Proyecto de Beca de Iniciación del Consejo de Investigaciones de la UNT).
Lorena Calvo (Guatemala), M.S. 1997. Bird species diversity within different systems of coffee plantations in Guatemala. Executive Director, Parque Zoologico la Aurora, Guatemala City; Director, Center for Conservation of Biodiversity in Guatemala .
Teresita Lomáscolo (Argentina). 1997. Interacciones entre mirtaceas arboreas y aves frugivoras en un gradiente altitudinal de las selvas de montaña. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, (co-director, Proyecto de Beca de Iniciacíon, CONICET).
José Tello (Peru), M.S. 1996. Lekking behavior of the Round-tailed Manakin (Pipra chloromeros) and patterns of advertisement call evolution in Pipra erythrocephala clade.
Jorge Perez-Eman (Venezuela), M.S., 1995. A comparison of bird and bat community structure in a tropical lowland rain forest of Venezuela.
Grace Servat (Peru), M.S., 1995. Availability and use of food resources by two species of Automolus (Aves, Furnariidae)
