Luis Miguel Renjifo

• PhD
• Professor (Full) at Pontifical Xavierian University

Conflicts between rural people and the Endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) are a prominent conservation concern in the northern Andes, as at least 60 eagles were poached between 2000 and 2022 in response to poultry predation. Here, we conducted direct observations to analyze the Black-and-chestnut Eagle diet and evaluated how fo...

We present an overview of the global spatiotemporal distribution of avian biodiversity, changes in our knowledge of that biodiversity, and the extent to which it is imperilled. Birds are probably the most completely inventoried large taxonomic class of organisms, permitting a uniquely detailed understanding of how the Anthropocene has shaped their...

We present an overview of the global spatiotemporal distribution of avian biodiversity, changes in our knowledge of that biodiversity, and the extent to which it is imperilled. Birds are probably the most completely inventoried large taxonomic class of organisms, permitting a uniquely detailed understanding of how the Anthropocene has shaped their...

En esta nota breve hacemos dos rectificaciones al Libro Rojo de Aves de Colombia, volumen II (Renjifo et al. 2016), las cuales no modifican el número total de aves amenazadas de Colombia, pero sí ajustan su composición. Estas rectificaciones son de distinta naturaleza: una a causa de un error cometido de buena fe y la otra por mejoría en el conocim...

Resumen En esta nota breve hacemos dos rectificaciones al Libro Rojo de Aves de Colombia, volumen II (Renjifo et al. 2016), las cuales no modifican el número total de aves amenazadas de Colombia, pero sí ajustan su composición. Estas rectificaciones son de distinta naturaleza: una a causa de un error cometido de buena fe y la otra por mejoría en el...

La restauración de corredores de vegetación nativa y la conservación de corredores de hábitat o de bosques riparios han sido propuestas como herramientas para aumentar o restituir la conectividad en paisajes fragmentados. Algunos estudios han evaluado la presencia o el movimiento de las especies para determinar la eficacia de los corredores, pero l...

La taxonomía y conocimiento de la distribución de la avifauna colombiana ha sufrido grandes cambios desde la publicación de “A Guide to the Birds of Colombia” por Hilty & Brown (1986), a tal punto que hoy no se sabe con precisión cuántas y cuáles especies de aves existen en el territorio colombiano. Presentamos la lista de chequeo de la avifauna de...

The impact of invasive species is one of the most important threats to biodiversity. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is one of the worst invasive species of plant in the world. It has been introduced in high Andean regions, with a considerable impact on the composition and structure of vegetation. however, its effect on high Andean birds is unknown. Gorse d...

We evaluated habitat preference of the White-backed Barbet Capito hypoleucus using population density as an indicator. We followed a hierarchical method based on different spatial scales of response, using data obtained in the Serranía de las Quinchas, a small range of mountains in the Magdalena Valley of Colombia, and comple- mented with records o...

(Introducción): La marcada estacionalidad del enclave seco favorece endemismos y especies de distribución restringida, aunque durante el periodo de lluvias esta distribución puede variar, siendo más amplia para aprovechar recursos de otros ecosistemas. (Objetivo): El presente trabajo tiene el propósito de estudiar las variaciones que ocurren en la...

Aichi Target 12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) contains the aim to ‘prevent extinctions of known threatened species’. To measure the degree to which this was achieved, we used expert elicitation to estimate the number of bird and mammal species whose extinctions were prevented by conservation action in 1993–2020 (the lifetime of th...

Aichi Target 12 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to 'prevent extinctions of known threatened species'. To measure its success, we used a Delphi expert elicitation method to estimate the number of bird and mammal species whose extinctions were prevented by conservation action in 1993 - 2020 (the lifetime of the CBD) and 2010 - 20...

• Ecological restoration of riparian forest corridors at the landscape scale can facilitate recruitment of certain flora and fauna, thus possibly helping to maintain viable wildlife populations. • We evaluated ecological restoration of three corridors between two protected Andean forests. Soil ants and eight environmental variables focused on edaph...

Monitoring trends in the extinction risk of species is important for tracking conservation effectiveness. The Red List index (RLI) reflects changes in aggregate extinction risk for sets of species over time (a value of zero means that all species are extinct, a value of one means that all species are categorized as Least Concern). We calculated the...

In human-transformed landscapes, predators may feed on domesticated animals, and thus affect human well-being, creating negative perceptions and leading to conflict with people that can result in the persecution of the predator. We studied the factors that influence the perception of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) in four rural An...

In anthropogenically transformed habitats, some birds of prey feed on domestic animals, triggering conflict between people and predators. To manage this conflict, it is important to understand the ecological circumstances associated with the predation of domestic animals. We studied variation in the diet of the endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle (...

En hábitats transformados antrópicamente algunas rapaces pueden alimentarse de animales domésticos, generando percepciones negativas e impulsando conflictos con las personas, lo cual desencadena persecución a especies amenazadas. Estudiamos la dieta del águila crestada (Spizaetus isidori) y los factores que determinan las percepciones hacia ella y...

En hábitats transformados antrópicamente algunas rapaces pueden alimentarse de animales domésticos, generando percepciones negativas e impulsando conflictos con las personas, lo cual desencadena persecución a especies amenazadas. Estudiamos la dieta del águila crestada (Spizaetus isidori) y los factores que determinan las percepciones hacia ella y...

The expansion of agricultural and livestock production has been a key factor in deforestation in the world and especially in the tropical region. Currently, more than half of the Earth’s surface is used for the establishment of production systems; in this context, live fences can generate positive effects on the environment and provide environmenta...

La evaluación periódica del riesgo de extinción de las especies es indispensable para monitorear el progreso o retroceso de su estado de conservación. Se analiza aquí la evolución de las listas y libros rojos de aves en Colombia en cuanto al sistema de evaluación, los métodos y la composición de las especies. Las cinco evaluaciones realizadas a la...

The restoration of habitat corridors and the conservation of remnant forest strips or riparian habitats have been proposed as tools to enhance connectivity in fragmented landscapes. To determine corridor effectiveness some studies have evaluated species presence and movements, but life cycle activities are rarely used as measurements of success. In...

The taxonomy and knowledge of the distribution of Colombian avifauna has undergone great changes since the publication of “A Guide to the Birds of Colombia” by Hilty & Brown (1986) to the extent that we are unaware of how many and which species inhabit the Colombian territory. Here, we present a checklist of the birds of Colombia updated to August...

La taxonomía y conocimiento de la distribución de la avifauna colombiana ha sufrido grandes cambios desde la publicación de “A Guide to the Birds of Colombia” por Hilty & Brown (1986), a tal punto que hoy no se sabe con precisión cuántas y cuáles especies de aves existen en el territorio colombiano. Presentamos la lista de chequeo de la avifauna de...

Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) it’s distributed along the Andes from Colombia to Argentina, considered forest dependent and highly susceptible to anthropogenic perturbations. In Colombia, it is estimated that it has lost 60.6% of its habitat and is subject to hunting pressure, categorized as Endangered. Domestic fowl has been reported...

Landscape modification and fragmentation are widespread processes across the world and, as a consequence, ecosystem connectivity is lost and local extinction of species occurs. This trend is particularly critical in the tropics, which harbor the vast majority of earth's biological diversity. Restoration of corridors to enhance habitat connectivity...

We conducted an ornithological survey of the Colombian slope of Cerro Tacarcuna, the highland region adjacent to the 'Darién Gap' on the Colombia / Panama border, and one of the most poorly known and threatened regions in the world. We present novel data on distribution, habitat, breeding biology and vocalisations for 27 species, including the firs...

RESUMEN ∙ El arroz es uno de los principales alimentos para el ser humano y su área cultivada global se aproxima a los diez millones de hectáreas. Muchos ecosistemas naturales, en especial humedales, han sido modificados para realizar este cultivo. Sin embargo, el desarrollo de este cereal requiere de etapas de anegamiento que permiten que varios o...

This book guides users through the process of extinction risk assessmet developed by IUCN for the application in Colombia

Rice is one of the most important food sources for humans, and its global cultivated surface reaches ten millions of hectares. Many natural ecosystems, especially wetlands, have been modified or destroyed due to conversion to rice fields. However, rice crops require flooding, and the wetlands thus created can provide food for several organisms incl...

We documented movement of a long-distant migrant (Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus) and two understory resident species (Chestnut-capped Brush-finch Buarremon brunneinuchus and Streak-capped Treehunter Thripadectes virgaticeps) in a fragmented landscape dominated by a pasture matrix in a Sub-Andean region of central Colombia. Swainson's Thrush...

The mutual relationships between bats and vegetation, in addition to the individual benefits, are significant contributors to the tropical forest regeneration through seed dispersal. As the bats eat the fruits of pioneer plants they provide secondary succession dispersing the ingested seeds into the forest as well as in the degraded areas. This stu...

Revisión y estado del arte de la restauración ecológica de arrecifes coralinos Review and state of the art for ecological restoration of coral reefs Valeria Pizarro, Vanessa Carrillo y Adriana García-Rueda Abstract Coral reefs are important coastal ecosystems for both humans and marine species due to the diversity of ecosystem services they pro...

We present an avifaunal list for the department of Quindío, Colombia. Data were compiled from our original fieldwork, museum online databases, and literature. The list includes 543 species, of which 34 are in some threatened category, 28 are Colombian endemics or semi-endemics, 44 are migrants, and 26 are new records for this region. Eleven species...

Live fences may act as tools for biodiversity conservation by providing habitat for native species and increasing connectivity in the landscape. We studied the influence of live fence characteristics on species richness and fence use by birds by examining both local and landscape factors. We studied three types of live fences: planted fences of a n...

The impact of invasive species is one of the most important threats to biodiversity. Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is one of the worst invasive species of plant in the world. It has been introduced in high Andean regions, with a considerable impact on the composition and structure of vegetation. However, its effect on high Andean birds is unknown. Gorse d...

Live fences may act as tools for biodiversity conservation by providing habitat for native species and increasing connectivity in the landscape. We studied the influence of live fence characteristics on species richness and fence use by birds by examining both local and landscape factors. We studied three types of live fences: planted fences of a n...

El impacto de las especies invasoras es una de las principales amenazas que pesa sobre la biodiversidad. El retamo espinoso (Ulex europaeus) es una de las peores especies invasoras de plantas del mundo y ha sido introducida en varias regiones altoandinas, con un impacto considerable en la composición y estructura de la vegetación. Sin embargo, su e...

As the global percentage of land intervened for the settlement of productive systems continues to grow, and the possibilities of increasing protected areas for biodiversity conservation are reduced, rural landscapes become more important in the conservation scene. In the Neotropical region, these landscapes represent an opportunity for bird conserv...

Bird research and conservation in Neotropical rural landscapes.-As the global percentage of land intervened for the settlement of productive systems continues to grow, and the possibilities of increasing protected areas for biodiversity conservation are reduced, rural landscapes become more important in the conservation scene. In the Neotropical re...

Scytalopus stilesi, una Nueva Especie de Tapaculo (Rhinocryptidae) de la Cordillera Central de Colombia. Describimos a Scytalopus stilesi, una nueva especie de tapaculo endémica de Colombia, con base en una serie de ocho especímenes colectados en 2002 y en análisis comparativos de sus vocalizaciones, secuencias de ADN mitocondrial y distribución....

We describe Scytalopus stilesi, an overlooked species of tapaculo endemic to Colombia, on the basis of a series of eight specimens taken in 2002 and comparative analyses of its vocalizations, mitochondrial DNA sequences, and distribution. The new species ranges in the northern half of the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes in the Departments...

Here we describe the first nesting records of the Moustached Antpitta (Grallaria alleni). We found two nests in sub-Andean forests in the Central Andes of Colombia at 1,800 m and in northwestern Ecuador at 1,900 m elevation during November 1995 and March 1999. Both nests were bulky structures with an open deep cup, made with moist plant material, i...

The nature of the landscape matrix can control the capacity of forest organisms to move among forest patches. Some matrices may constitute foraging or breeding habitat and, as a result, could influence the local abundance of forest organisms and their persistence in fragmented landscapes. This study represents a first approach to examining the effe...

The nature of the landscape matrix can control the capacity of forest organisms to move among forest patches. Some matrices may constitute foraging or breeding habitat and, as a result, could influence the local abundance of forest organisms and their persistence in fragmented landscapes. This study represents a first approach to examining the effe...

El río Toche y sus alrededores es un área de 261 km2con 15% de bosque montano húmedo, entre los 1900 y 3500 m, ubicado la ladera Este de la parte central de la Cordillera Central de Colombia, Departamento del Tolima. Esta área es tratada como Area Clave para la conservación de especies amenazadas y considerada dentro de dos EBAs (del ingles Endemic...

Current understanding of the effects of forest fragmentation is based largely on studies in temperate regions, Australia, and Neotropical lowlands. In contrast, the consequences of anthropogenic forest fragmentation for Andean avifaunas are poorly understood, despite large-scale habitat loss and fragmentation. I assessed the effects of long-term fr...

A review of the composition of five montane avifaunas in northwestern South America and southern Central America confirmed the distinctness of these communities from adjacent lowland areas. Excluding species that depend on aquatic resources, 1,800 bird species from 52 families were classified according to principal life zones in this review. There...

Se citan las primeras localidades donde se encontró por primera vez en Colombia el género Cornus (C. peruviana Macbr.) Cornaceae. Se presenta una descripción detallada de esta especie, acompañada de una iconografía y de los datos ecológicos hasta ahora reistrados en Colombia. Abstract: The localities are registered where Conus (C.peruviana Macbr.)...