Owl biodiversity and possible new owl species in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Research summary

This multinational research team wants to identify so far unknown (mystery) owl species recently seen and photographed in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Identification will use genetic sampling and voice recordings which will be compared with several museum skins and blood samples in the UK, US and The Netherlands in addition to owls in the number of university collections in South America. After the owls are correctly identified it is easier to secure their better conservation and to study the needs for biodiversity sustainablity in their vulnerable forest habitats.

Description

Several unidentified owl species were listed in the latest Owls of the World book By Heimo Mikkola (2013) which promted to form this multinational research team to organize the research of these possibly new species in their tropical environments in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Team members have already visited number of natural history museums in Latin America and in the UK. The team has also optained DNA sample from one of the mystery owls (San Isidro).
A small research grant has been given By Heimo Mikkola to Ecuador team to continue the field work in 2014.

Research info

Research title
Owl biodiversity and possible new owl species in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Research timeline
1.10.2013 - 1.1.2015

Keywords
biodiversity Manu Mystery Owl. new owl species San Isidro Mystery Owl

Region
Latin America

Countries
Colombia, Ecuador, Finland, Peru

Institution
University of Eastern Finland
Department of Biology
Kuopio, Finland

Head of research
Heimo Mikkola

Research team
Dr. Elisa Bonaccorso, Mr. Juan Freile Ortiz and Mitch Lysinger

Partners
Natural History Museums in Bogota, Colombia and Quito, Ecuador as well as Natural Parks in San Isidro, Ecuador and Manu in Peru

Contact information
Heimo Mikkola
050-3717373
heimomikkola@yahoo.co.uk

Record last updated
7.1.2014