U.S.-Bolivia/Brazil Dissertation Research: Testing Proximate Hypotheses of Bird Migration in a Gorgotten Migratory System

该博士论文增强奖将为佛罗里达大学的PI和Co-PI在玻利维亚和巴西的实地研究提供资金。这项研究是在国家科学基金会以前资助的一个讲习班的基础上进行的：国家科学基金会INT-0313429“美国-智利讲习班：关于南方移徙问题的第一次专题讨论会”，2003年10月5日至11日，智利瓦拉斯港。这项研究利用了南方候鸟的一个不同寻常的特征：种群内迁徙行为的巨大差异，测试了关于鸟类迁徙的直接原因的理论。由于这一理论是在同一组北温带物种上开发和测试的，这项工作构成了它的第一个真正的独立测试。拟议中的研究将促进阿根廷、玻利维亚和巴西研究人员之间的国际合作。这项研究将通过实地测试该计划的几个重要组成部分，通过让这些其他国家的资深合作者参与进来，以及通过培训学生的实地技术，为该计划奠定基础。玻利维亚圣克鲁斯的自然历史博物馆(MHNNKM)将是主要的合作机构。参与这项研究的玻利维亚人包括这位同事(她拥有玻利维亚和美国的双重国籍)，两名来自玻利维亚当地大学的理科学生，以及一名来自MHNNKM的女研究员。所有人都将全职呆在研究现场。

This Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement award will provide funding for the PI and Co-PI from the University of Florida to conduct studies at field sites in Bolivia and Brazil. The study is building upon a prior NSF funded workshop: NSF INT-0313429 "U.S.-Chile Workshop: First Symposium on Austral Migration", Puerto Varas, Chile, 5-11 October 2003. The research tests a theory about the proximate causes of bird migration by taking advantage of an unusual feature of austral migrants: the large variation in migratory behaviors within populations. Because this theory has been developed and tested on the same set of north temperate species, this work constitutes its first true independent test.The proposed study will promote international collaboration between Argentinean, Bolivian and Brazilian researchers. The study will lay the groundwork by field-testing several important components of the scheme, by involving senior collaborators in these other countries, and by training students in field techniques. The Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (MHNNKM) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia will be the primary collaborative institution. Bolivian participants in this study include the co-PI (who has dual citizenship in Bolivia and the U.S.), two B.S. students from the local university in Bolivia, and a female researcher from the MHNNKM. All will be at the study site full-time.