Avian Biodiversity and Ectoparasites in the New Jersey Meadowlands

Juhi Rawal

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology

Major: Biology/Enviornmental Option

Faculty Research Mentor: Cailin O’Connor Fitzpatrick

Abstract:

Surrounded by populous urban areas, the wetlands of the New Jersey Meadowlands are home to a wide variety of species, including an impressive biodiversity of birds. Harrier Meadow, a saltmarsh, and the adjacent Erie Landfill, a capped landfill in intermediate succession, house a breeding and migratory bird banding station to quantify local bird populations. Although polluted and degraded in the past by human activities, these habitats function as important stopover sites for birds during migration as rare natural areas surrounded by urban sprawl. During fall migration in 2024, data was collected on over 1400 birds processed at the banding station. These data were analyzed for species and age distribution, as well as the presence of ectoparasites such as ticks. This season, 69 species of birds were banded, including 22 species of warblers, a group of conservation concern.  The most frequently encountered species was the Yellow-Rumped Warbler, representing 30% of individuals. The prevalence of ectoparasites among species was also quantified. This information can be used to identify patterns in local bird populations and the species that could be at higher risk of tick-borne pathogens.  The banding station also collaborated with tick biologists to collect ticks for study of the movement of human tick-borne pathogens and with the Bird Genoscape Project, collecting feathers to contribute to genome sequencing of populations of various species.