Catherine Lindell, Michigan State University ornithologist, was named the 15th editor in chief of The Condor: Ornithological Applications, one of two peer-reviewed journals published by the American Ornithological Society, or AOS.
The AOS Council selected Lindell to lead The Condor based on her comprehensive vision for its future, including plans to increase interdisciplinary and international submissions and to involve students in the manuscript review process. Her commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in scientific publishing also played a significant role.
“I’m pleased with the confidence my colleagues have shown in me by providing this opportunity to lead The Condor,” said Lindell, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and a member of Center for Global Change and Earth Observations. “I look forward to expanding the reach of The Condorto all parts of the globe as we strive to publish the critical, original research necessary to manage and produce policy to protect birds.”
Lindell’s research explores the behavior and ecology of birds and how they contribute to ecological functioning and ecosystem services. One of her current research projects investigates bird interactions with abiotic and biotic components of tropical forest restoration systems. Because birds are important mediators of various tropical ecosystem processes that facilitate restoration, including seed dispersal, pollination and consumption of herbivorous insects, understanding why some restoration strategies attract more birds than others—and the mechanisms underlying these patterns—will help guide future restoration efforts.
“Catherine has developed several innovative and productive research projects addressing important applied problems in ornithology, and she has a great record of high-quality professional service,” said Thomas Getty, professor and Integrative Biology chair. “Her selection as editor-in-chief of The Condor is a well-deserved honor that will capitalize on her intellectual and organizational strengths. Her colleagues in Integrative Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, and the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations are pleased and proud.”
“We’re at an important time in Earth’s history,” added Lindell, who is also an AOS Fellow. “We humans recognize our dependence on Earth’s systems for our own well-being, but still don’t have all the knowledge, and sometimes the will, to care for and manage these systems. Birds play key roles in providing ecosystem services, moving materials and organisms from one ecosystem to another and providing aesthetic and spiritual joy to humans.”
The AOS is the largest ornithological society in the world, providing leadership in ornithological research and a rigorous scientific basis for the conservation of birds. The society’s checklists serve as the accepted authority for scientific and English names of birds in North, Middle and South America.