Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

01 May, 05 AM - 31 Jul, 05 AM

I am conducting my dissertation research on alternative patterns of sexual coloration and paternal behavior in yellow warblers breeding along riparian corridors on, and near, SNARL. I aim to determine the extent to which sexual coloration is condition-dependent in yellow warblers, and the extent to which the allocation of mating and paternal effort by males depends on individual condition and environmental variables. To this end, I am capturing warblers in mist nets, measuring plumage coloration via digital photographs and spectrometric analysis of feather samples, and taking blood samples to assay individual antioxidant status and hematocrit (metrics of condition). Further, I am monitoring parental behavior at nests via video-recording, and relating variation in paternal behavior to sexual coloration. In addition, I am introducing model predators and females on territories to investigate if perceived mate abundance and predation risk modify paternal allocation strategies in a fashion that depends on individual condition and coloration. Finally, I am obtaining small blood samples from warbler nestlings to obtain DNA for paternity analysis. DNA paternity analyses will allow me to determine true patterns of reproductive success, and how reproductive behavior impacts fitness. My work has importance to understanding how individual condition and environment interact to determine reproductive allocation strategies, and to predicting environment-dependent mate preferences with respect to sexual plumage ornamentation.

Visit #24471 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 21465 | Research

Plasticity in reproductive allocation: Do males adjust mating and paternal effort to individual condition and environment?

graduate_student - University of California, Riverside

Reservation Members(s)

Andrea Grunst May 1 - Jul 31, 2011 (92 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Q1 1 May 1 - Jul 31, 2011
Q2 1 May 1 - Jul 31, 2011
Q3 1 May 1 - Jul 31, 2011