Collaborative Research: The Physiological Ecology of Seasonal Interactions: How Do Wintering Ground Events Constrain Breeding Success in Neotropical Migrants?

候鸟在北美的温带地区繁殖，但在更南边的非常不同的栖息地过冬。尽管1000公里或更远的距离可能会将越冬与繁殖区分开，但最近的研究表明，冬季的生态条件可能会影响随后的繁殖成功。这项研究的主要目的是调查将冬季事件与个体繁殖能力联系起来的潜在生理因素。美洲红蜘蛛(Setophaga Ruticilla)是一种优秀的研究动物，其越冬和繁殖期的生态和行为已得到了深入的研究。在它们离开越冬地之前，将通过分析冬季栖息地质量(食物的可获得性)的自然和实验诱导的变化、鸟类的能量状况(体重、脂肪储存、能量储存和使用的血浆指标)以及它们的繁殖状态(生殖激素)之间的联系，来调查红鹤为繁殖做准备的程度以及影响这一程度的因素。当它们到达繁殖地时，也将在红色启动时采取类似的能量和生殖条件措施。稳定碳同位素作为冬季栖息地起源的标志，将被用来将冬季和夏季事件联系起来。这项研究提供了对个体生命周期不同阶段如何相互作用以影响繁殖成功的更多理解，将大大有助于我们理解候鸟种群是如何被调节的，并最终将帮助资源管理者更有效地指导保护工作。这项研究的更广泛影响包括有机会通过生理学、行为学和生态学的结合以及各种实验室和实地方法，极大地提高许多学生，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的学生的专业培训的广度，并将加强与牙买加保护团体的联系。

Migratory birds breed throughout the temperate regions of North America but winter in very different habitats further south. Although 1000 km or more may separate wintering from breeding areas, recent research has revealed that ecological conditions during winter can influence subsequent reproductive success. The major objective of this research is to investigate the underlying physiological factors linking winter events with an individual's ability to breed. The American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is an excellent study animal: its ecology and behavior during the wintering and breeding periods have been intensively studied. The degree to which redstarts prepare for breeding, and the factors that influence this, while still on their winter territories will be investigated by analyzing the links between natural and experimentally induced variation in winter habitat quality (food availability), the birds' energetic condition (body mass, fat stores, plasma indicators of energy storage and use), and their breeding status (reproductive hormones) before they leave the wintering grounds. Similar measures of energetic and reproductive condition will also be taken in redstarts as they arrive at the breeding grounds. Stable-carbon isotopes, as markers of winter habitat origin, will be used to link winter and summer events. This research provides greater understanding of how different periods of an individual's life cycle interact to influence reproductive success, will contribute significantly to our understanding of how migrant bird populations are regulated, and will ultimately help resource managers direct conservation efforts more efficiently. The broader impacts of this research include the opportunity to greatly enhance the breadth of professional training of many students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, through its integration of physiology, behavior, and ecology and a variety of lab and field methods, and will strengthen ties with conservation groups in Jamaica.