Austral birds offer insightful complementary models in ecology and evolution

The Southern Hemisphere differs from the Northern Hemisphere in many aspects. However, most ecological and evolutionary research is conducted in the Northern Hemisphere and its conclusions are extrapolated to the entire globe. Therefore, unique organismal and evolutionary characteristics of the south are overlooked. We use ornithology to show the importance of including a southern perspective. We present examples of plumage pigmentation, brood -parasitic nestling ejection, flightlessness, female song, and female aggression modulated by progesterone as complementary models for investigating funda-mental biological questions. More research in the Southern Hemisphere, together with increased cooperation among researchers across the hemispheres and within the Southern Hemisphere, will provide a greater global outlook into ecology and evolution.

Automated summary

The Southern Hemisphere differs from the Northern Hemisphere in many aspects. Most ecological and evolutionary research is conducted in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to overlooking unique characteristics of the south. Ornithology provides examples to demonstrate the importance of including a southern perspective in investigating fundamental biological questions. More research in the Southern Hemisphere, along with increased cooperation among researchers, will provide a broader global outlook into ecology and evolution.