Current research

Evolution of passerine birds (perching birds, Passeriformes). This group comprises c. 6000 species or nearly two thirds of all birds, and therefore is a suitable model group for global scale studies of diversification processes (biogeography in relation to plate tectonics and climate, patterns and rates of speciation, drivers, notably whether radiations are triggered by by earth history events or by innovations in specific lineages). The analytic work is done in close collaboration with other research groups in Swedish Natural History Museum, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology at University of California, Berkeley, and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, as my own contribution mainly is over all visions, coordination and linking together molecular phylogenies and distributional data. The project works closely together with Center of Macroecology (Carsten Rahbek) at the Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen. 

Detailed studies of historical population structure and speciation of African vertebrates is conducted in close collaboration with Hans Siegismund (Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen) and Rauri Bowie (University of California, Berkeley).  

CV

Updated 9. June 2006

Jon Fjeldså holds a MSc from Bergen University (Norway) and a Dr.Sci. from Copenhagen University, where he is now professor in biodiversity and in change of the bird collections of the Zoological Museum. His teaching obligations comprises supervision on the MSc and PhD levels in evolutionary biology, biogeography and conservation. He is responsible for a Danida-funded capacity building project in Uganda and Tanzania, and has played a key role in establishing research programmes in the fields of molecular approaches to biosystematics, tropical biodiversity, macroecology and conservation priority analysis.

PERSONAL DATA: Born 13 December 1942 in Norway. Danish citizen.

PRIVATE ADDRESS: Viborggade 15 3h, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; tel. +45 3526 8537.

WORK ADDRESS: Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark, tel. +45 3532 1023, fax +45 3532 1010, email [email protected]. POSITIONS: 1970 teaching assistant, University of Bergen, Norway; 1971 Assistant professor, Zoological Museum, from 1974 Associate professor and from 1996 full professor, same place.

EDUCATION. Dr.Sci. University of Copenhagen, 1975, cand. real. University of Bergen, Norway 1970.

RESEARCH INTERESTS: Systematics and biogeography of the Andean and African avifaunas, and analysis of continent-wide patterns of species richness and endemism, underlying environmental and evolutionary causes, and implications for conservation planning. Works presently with a biodiversity atlas and conservation strategy for Africa, and with a global phylogenetic analysis of the largest radiation of birds (passerine birds).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION: 1971- curator of bird collections, Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, since 1979 chief curator. Since 1987 established the 2nd largest avian tissue collection in the world for genetic studies. On organizing committee of five international conferences. In the 1990s established a broad research collaborations (with many partners) to enhance the capacity in Denmark for studies of tropical biota, and conservation planning, with close collaboration with institutions in eastern Africa, the Andes region of South America and Malaysia. Responsible since 1995 for ENRECA project on biodiversity with Makerere University, Uganda, and University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participated in the committee planning the establishment of GBIF secretariat in Denmark and currently member of the GBIF Subcommittee on Outreach and Capacity Building. Co-founder and chairman of the Nordic Foundation for Development and Ecology (NORDECO). Since ca. 1990 board member of the Danish Ornithological Society (BirdLife Denmark) and chairman of its international committee, and 1994-1999 on Board of Directors of BirdLife International. Danish representative on the International Ornithological Commission.

GRANTS AND AWARDS (LAST FIVE YEARS): 2001 and 2005 two grants from Danish Science Research Council (?rammebevilling?), altogether 1.2 mill. kr. 2004 grant from Danida for ENRECA project, 4 mill. kr. 2004 grant from Danish Council for Development Research (RUF) for finalizing databases over African biodiversity, 1.4 mill. kr. Several smaller grants, altogether ca. 800.000 kr.

FIELD EXPERIENCE: 1960-70s comprehensive fieldwork to study ecology and co-evolution of waterbirds in Europe, South America and Australia. From 1980 comprehensive surveys of Andean avifauna for making the first regional handbook. From 1987 focused on high-elevation relict forests in the Andes, and strategy for ecological restoration of Andean highland habitats. From 1991 focused increasingly on afromontane forests, with fieldwork mainly in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. Altogether ca. 40 months of fieldwork includes several collaborative projects involving geographers and socio- and economy experts.

TEACHING: Has participated in several courses in tropical ecology and biodiversity assessment. However, the main effort has been on individual supervision of 75 M.Sc. and 18 PhD students in Denmark, Africa and Sabah, and on evaluation committees for 20 D.Sc. and Ph.D. theses.

Primary fields of research

Field of expertease broad, comprising evolution, biogeography and taxonomy of birds. Current research has focus on the tropical Andes region of South America and eastern Africa, and global evolution of passerine birds, which comprise more than half of all birds. Mode of speciation and historical and ecological factors affecting the regional patterns of endemism and species richness. This is developed through traditional biogeographical methods supplemented with DNA-based studies of species-rich groups (in collaboration with other institutes) and comprehensive distributional databases (with external collaboration concerning GIS and remotely sensed environmental parameters). Conservation priority analysis (with links to institutions studying human use of natural resources). The broader field of interest includes art and illustration of books in the fields of ornithology and conservation.

Curation

Curatorial responsibility for the Zoological Museum's collections of Aves. Half time curatorial assistant/taxidermist (Jan Bolding Kristensen). In the later years large efforts to build up tissue collections for DNA studies of tropical avifaunas (ca. 3,000 species). Formal responsibility for the collections of Amphibia and Reptilia (assisted by Peter Gravlund, Mogens Andersen and Abdi Hedayat).

Other duties

Head of Vertebrate Department and member of the institution?s Research and DNA Committees. Administration of research grants and research enhancement project (under Danida), and member of the steering group of All Birds Barcode Initiative, where ca. 50 research groups try to provide complete genetic identification tools for all birds. Regularly serves on academic committees in Denmark and abroad, and as referee, especially for scientific journals. Member of an advisory committee of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Danish representative on the International Ornithological Committee. Honorary Member of American Ornithologists Union.

Teaching

Regularly participates in teaching at Biological Institute (Copenhagen University) and elsewhere, but is presently not responsible for specific courses. Supervises Bachelor, Masters and Ph.D. projects. Current students at Copenhagen University: Rasmus Bisschop-Larsen (MSc), Katja Wolfhechel Christensen, Søren Egelund, Thomas Lerche (MSc); Knud Andreas Jønsson (PhD).

Students at University of Copenhagen

- Knud A. Jønsson (PhD)

Other students

A long-term research enhancement programme for training in biodiversity research (together with Professor Ib Friis and Nikolaj Scharff) with University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (funding from Danida, The Danish Foreign Ministry). Currently external supervisor for PhD students Herbert Tushabe and Harold Greeney.

Miscellaneous (info)

Chairman of Nordic Foundation for Development and Ecology. Board Member of BirdLife Denmark (and 1994-1999 board member of BirdLife International) and chairman of its International Committee.