Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

02 Jun, 03 PM - 07 Jun, 11 AM

My lab is investigating how altitude and latitude can influence reproductive biology, specifically mate fidelity, the degree to which hormones control reproduction, and variation in life history traits (e.g. clutch size, duration of incubation, time to fledge, and adult and juvenile mortality). This work involves studying populations of the same species, Troglodytes aedon, at each of four geographic locations- two in the temperate zone (Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory- high elevation; Marshall Canyon in La Verne California - low elevation) and two in Costa Rica (San Luis- high elevation, and La Selva Biological Station- tropical lowlands). To date, at each site, we have conducted observations of undisturbed birds and birds responding to simulated territorial intrusion using song playback. Birds have been trapped, a small blood sample taken for later hormone analysis, and released after each observation. We have also collected blood samples from each chick in our study populations for later paternity analysis. We are now turning our attention to identifying the relative influences of three factors that have been proposed to explain the patterns of variation in reproduction that we have observed- food limitation, adult survival, and nest predation. To this end, we have conducted observations of female incubation behavior and its effectiveness (by 24 hr monitoring of ambient vs. box temperature), male versus female investment in feeding of nestling and response to food supplementation, male vs. female response to simulated predator presentations, incubation and feeding behavior by parents and chick growth and survival rates. At SNARL and Matrshall Canyon in 2006, we will be assessing the effects of 2005 food supplementation on bird return rates and reproductive behavior. Pooled together, these data will allow us a unique insight into the pressures which mold different reproductive strategies. The nature of this study is unique in that it examines the same species of bird in free-living populations in a number of different environments. As a result, it has the potential to address a number of controversies in animal biology including life history theory, behavioral endocrinology, and behavioral ecology.

Visit #10113 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 6804 | Research

Environmental influences on avian reproductive biology

faculty - Pomona College

Reservation Members(s)

Rachel Levin Jun 2 - 7, 2006 (6 days)
Rachel Levin Jun 2 - 7, 2006 (6 days)
Group of 4 Undergraduate Student Jun 2 - 7, 2006 (6 days)

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Dorm 6 Jun 2 - 7, 2006