DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The adaptive significance of microgeographic dialects in a lekking hummingbird

几十年来，科学界对鸟鸣，特别是当地共享的发声（方言）现象一直很感兴趣。奇怪的是，这种兴趣几乎完全集中在一组非常有限的物种上：温带、社会一夫一妻制的鸣禽。该项目通过实验测试了四种假设，解释了热带蜂鸟（小隐士）微地理方言的维持。蜂鸟的歌曲虽然研究相对较少，但长期以来一直被认为表现出方言变化，并提供了一个无与伦比的机会来研究有关在代表与传统鸣禽模型的对比的研究系统中声音变化演变的问题。将结合分子遗传学分析、现场回放实验和密切的行为观察来确定维持方言的选择压力。拟议的研究通过调查研究不足的分类单元（蜂鸟）中普遍存在的现象（方言）将有助于增进我们对导致共享信号形成的过程的了解，并阐明影响社会群体中个体的空间和社会组织的因素。 该项目将为许多助手提供研究经验，为指导和激励新一代科学家创造机会。此外，布拉索塞科的农村社区距离特立尼达的实地地点很近，为社区参与科学和保护提供了许多机会：从在当地学校举办讲座到村民积极参与巢穴搜索和无线电跟踪等研究活动。

Scientific interest in birdsong, particularly in the phenomenon of locally shared vocalizations (dialects), has been intense for many decades. Oddly, this interest has focused almost exclusively on a very restricted set of species: temperate, socially monogamous songbirds. This project experimentally tests four hypotheses explaining the maintenance of microgeographic dialects in a tropical hummingbird, the little hermit. Hummingbird songs, though comparatively less well studied, have long been known to show dialectal variation, and offer an unparalleled opportunity to investigate questions about the evolution of vocal variation in a study system that represents a contrast to the traditional songbird model. A combination of molecular genetic analyses, field playback experiments, and close behavioral observations will be employed to identify the selective pressures that maintain dialects. The proposed research, by investigating a widespread phenomenon (dialects) in a poorly studied taxon (hummingbirds) will help advance our knowledge about the processes leading to the formation of shared signals in general as well as to elucidate the factors that influence the spatial and social organization of individuals in social groups. This project will provide research experience for a number of assistants, creating an opportunity for mentoring and inspiring a new generation of scientists. In addition, the close proximity of the rural community of Brasso Seco to the field site in Trinidad enables a number of opportunities to engage the community in science and conservation: from lectures given at the local school to active participation of villagers in research activities such as nest searching and radio-tracking.