Species Monograph: Format and Outline Format 5 pages maximum (not including Figu

Species Monograph: Format and Outline
Format
5 pages maximum (not including Figures and Works Cited)
Double-spaced
Font: Times New Roman
Font Size: 12
Margins: 1-inch top, bottom, right, and left
Citations and Works Cited Page: APA Style
Descriiption
​Describe your species’ physical characteristics (beak, legs, plumage, coloration, etc.). List average body length, height, wingspan, mass, etc. Describe any differences among adult males, adult females, and juveniles. Helpful Tip: to avoid plagiarism, consider looking at pictures of your bird in your field guide and describing the bird’s appearance in your own words instead of attempting to paraphrase a source’s descriiption. If you do this, don’t forget to cite your field guide! If you choose to paraphrase a source’s descriiption instead, be sure to write in your own words and, as always, cite the source!
Geographic Distribution
​Briefly describe “where in the world” your species can be found. Describe breeding, non-breeding, and year-round ranges. Also describe when (i.e., time of year) your species can be found in these ranges. Include figure callouts that reference your maps. For example, Common Ravens are distributed throughout much of the northern hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia (Fig. 1). All figures should be included on separate pages that follow your text but precede your works cited page. Figures should not be embedded within your text! See the “figures” section below. Helpful Tip: similar to the “Descriiption” section, try looking at distribution maps for your species and describing your species’ distribution in your own words. As another reminder, don’t forget to include figure callouts that reference your maps! If you are basing your distribution descriiption off of maps that are not included in your monograph, such as the maps in your field guide, be sure to cite the source that provided those maps! If you choose to paraphrase a source’s descriiption instead, be sure to write in your own words and, as always, cite the source!
Habitat
​List and describe the preferred habitat(s) of your species. Note: don’t just name habitat types, describe them! For instance, don’t just say Hooded Warblers live in forests, say Hooded Warblers live in mature oak-hickory forests with thick understories of mountain laurel, blueberry, or rhododendron. Also, what resources make habitats “good” for your species (i.e., what resources are vital for your species)? Lastly, does the preferred habitat change throughout the year? How? Helpful Tip: never tell me that your species’ habitat does not change throughout the year. Even if you have a resident bird species, you can always briefly describe the phenological changes that occur in its habitat. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to cite!
Feeding Ecology
​Describe the feeding ecology of your species. Be sure to answer the following questions: What does your species eat? Does it eat the same foods year-round? How does your species acquire its food? In relation to its own body weight, how much does your species eat in a typical day? Also, be sure to describe any morphological adaptations or behaviors that help your species gather food. Helpful Tip: if you can’t find any information that describes how much your species eats in relation to its body weight, consider presenting this information for a similar, closely-related species. Just make sure you mention that you’re presenting information for a different species. PLEASE CITE!!!
Behavior
​Describe any behaviors that do not pertain to feeding or raising young. First, describe how they move (i.e., walking, flying, swimming, etc.) and be sure to describe any behavioral field marks that aid in identification (e.g., tail bobbing, wing movements during flight, diving, etc.). Then, consider addressing the following questions in detail: Does your species live alone or in groups? What sounds does your species make? Why? Is your species territorial? If so, how does it maintain its territory? Does your species engage in any courtship displays or rituals? Does your species have any defensive behaviors that are useful against predators? Does your species migrate? If so, where does it go? What route(s) does it take to get there? How far does it travel? Does it fly straight through or make stops along the way? Does it migrate alone or in flocks? Helpful Tip: you need not address all of these questions, just the ones that pertain to your species’ most important or fascinating behaviors. If you would like to mention a few pertinent behavioral aspects that are not listed here, please do so, but be sure to keep it brief. Lastly, make sure you cite the source(s) that provided each and every bit of information!
Reproductive Ecology and Life Cycle
​Describe vital aspects of your species’ reproductive ecology and life cycle. What type of mating system does your species have (e.g., monogamous, polygynous, polyandrous, etc.)? When is the breeding season? Where does breeding occur (i.e., describe geographic regions and habitats where breeding occurs)? How many eggs in a clutch? How many clutches per breeding season? Does your species construct a nest? If so, who makes the nest, what does it look like, what is it made from, and is the nest reused for future broods? Who incubates the eggs? How long is incubation? Are the young altricial or precocial? Who feeds the young? How long from hatching to fledgling? Does parental care extend past fledgling? If so for how long? How long to maturity? How long does your species live? Helpful Tip: if you can’t find all this information, consider presenting information for a similar, closely-related species. Just make sure you mention that you’re presenting information for a different species. PLEASE, PLEASE CITE!!!
Population Dynamics
​Discuss population trends from eBird and Christmas Bird Count. Are your species’ US and NJ populations increasing, decreasing, or stable? What time of year is your species most common in New Jersey? When is it least common? What areas of North America are experiencing population growth, decline, and/or stasis? Include figure callouts that reference your line graphs and population trend map. Helpful Tip: in this section you are merely describing how your species’ populations are changing according to your eBird and Christmas Bird Count line graphs and your eBird population trend map; base all of this section off of these figures. There is no need to rely on additional information to write this section, in fact, you’ll lose points if you do! Lastly, if you base this section entirely off of your line graphs and eBird map, like you’re supposed to, you’ll have no need for citations in this section. Just be sure to include figure callouts that reference your line graphs and eBird map!
Conservation
​What is your species’ global, US, and NJ conservation status? Describe the threats to your species’ populations. What, if anything, is being done by people to mitigate these threats? Helpful Tip: if your species is common today, perhaps it has a history when it was not so common or even close to extinction. Lots of bird species today are conservation success stories; they’re common today but weren’t always so. If this sounds like your species, make mention of your species’ conservation history here. If your species is and always was abundant, you can always mention factors that contribute to the decline of just about all bird species such as habitat destruction and fragmentation. Whatever you do, don’t make stuff up or copy information! Lastly, be sure to cite!
Significance
​Discuss your species’ ecological importance. What role does your species play in its ecosystem? Describe that role. Is it one of vital importance? Also describe your species’ cultural and/or commercial significance to humans. What, if anything, do people use your species for (e.g., food, hunting, birding, ecotourism, scientific studies, indicator or sentinel species, etc.)? Does your specific species or a similar closely-related species have any cultural significance to people of the past and present (superstitions, customs, religious beliefs, cartoon characters, mascots, etc.)? Helpful Tip: you may think your species isn’t very important to its ecosystem or to people; your species may not be, but that’s no reason to give up on this section. If you find that the information you’re seeking for this section is lacking, you can always consider briefly mentioning your species’ interactions with its food and predator species. You can also mention instances when people used your species in scientific studies, even if the studies were conducted for the sole purpose of learning more about your species! And… Lastly… CITE!!!