Dissertation Research: Migratory Condition and its Influence on Reproduction in Two Nearctic-Neotropical Landbird Migrants

[00:73 . 19]本研究考察了到达高纬度繁殖地的洲际陆鸟候鸟的行为生态学和繁殖表现。迁徙和繁殖之间的联系是通过检查迁徙者到达密歇根北部并开始繁殖时身体状况所起的作用来评估的。鸟类在抵达时被捕获，评估状况，然后释放并随后重新安置，以检查抵达条件对行为和繁殖性能的影响。许多生物的生活史具有一年循环的特点：繁殖季节、迁徙季节、非繁殖季节、迁徙等等。尽管研究人员承认，在这个周期的一个阶段发生的事件会影响随后阶段的生存和/或繁殖成功，但很少研究阶段之间的关系。这项工作的独特之处在于它明确地关注这种联系。此外，虽然冬季和繁殖季节被认为是人口限制的主要时期，但迁徙的影响仍然未知。这项工作的结果对理解这一时期作为限制迁移生物种群的一个因素的相对重要性具有启示意义。最后，这些结果将深入了解什么是合适的中途栖息地，以及鸟类在途中定位栖息地的能力如何影响未来的繁殖表现。考虑到最近这些鸟类的许多种群数量下降，这一知识至关重要。

0073190MooreThis research examines the behavioral ecology and reproductive performance of intercontinental landbird migrants arriving at high latitude breeding grounds. The connection between migration and reproduction is being assessed by examining the role body condition plays as migrants arrive and begin to breed in northern Michigan. Birds are captured on arrival, condition assessed, and then released and subsequently relocated in order to examine the influence of arrival condition on both behavior and reproductive performance.The life history of many organisms is characterized by an annual cycle: breeding season, migration, nonbreeding season, migration and so on. Although researchers acknowledge that events during one phase of this cycle influence survival and/or reproductive success during subsequent phases, seldom is the relationship between phases studied. This work is unique in its explicit focus on this linkage. Moreover, while both winter and breeding seasons are argued to be major periods of population limitation, the influence of migration remains unknown. Results of this work have implications in understanding the relative importance of this period as a factor in limiting populations of migrating organisms. Finally, these results will provide insight into what constitutes suitable stopover habitat and how a bird's ability to locate en route habitat impacts future reproductive performance. This knowledge is critical given the recent declines in many populations of these birds.