Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

15 May, 07 AM - 15 Jul, 03 AM

There is a documented link between testosterone, aggression and immune response in males of many species. This link spawned the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, which loosely states that because testosterone is immunosuppressive, and because testosterone is responsible for many of the male secondary sexual traits, only those males that are of high quality can exhibit high quality secondary sexual traits without suffering increased parasite burdens. The link between hormones and immune response in females, however, is not well understood. I propose to examine the relationship between dominance, aggression, hormone levels and immune response in male and female birds to better understand the costs females incur when they have elevated levels of aggression. This summer I plan to capture, measure, take blood and release birds from six species of passerines: Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), Great-tailed Grackle (Quisculus mexicanus), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Brewer?s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), and European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Brown-headed Cowbirds are the focus of the study and I will be recording male repertoires to examine the link between components of the males' songs and their immune responses. In addition I plan to capture and release individuals from the other species as comparisons. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings and House Wrens are considered moderately to highly aggressive, while Common Grackles and Brewer?s Blackbirds are considered non-aggressive. The tradeoffs among different life-history strategies are poorly understood and my project is aimed at elucidating some of the costs associated with increased levels of aggression. Birds will be captured using baited Potter traps, mist-nets or via wig-wag entrance covers on the House Wren nest boxes.

Visit #9563 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 6498 | Research

Song and Immune Response in Brown-headed Cowbirds

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Loren Merrill May 15 - Jul 15, 2006 (62 days)
Loren Merrill May 15 - Jul 15, 2006 (62 days)

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Q2 2 May 15 - Jul 15, 2006