DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Understanding effects of social behavior on extinction risk in avian cooperative breeders

论文研究：了解社会行为对鸟类合作饲养者灭绝风险的影响

• 批准号: 1311445
• 负责人: J. Michael Reed
• 金额: $ 1.1万
• 依托单位: Tufts University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2015-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1311445&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Understanding; effects; social

It is well known that some social behaviors can lead to increased extinction risk when populations are small. For example, there can be a breakdown of group defense against predators when there are few individuals. However, less is known about the flipside -- how some social behaviors might protect small populations against extinction. Research supported by this grant is focused on an unusual social behavior called cooperative breeding, whereby offspring from one year forgo breeding to assist their parents in raising offspring the next year. It is proposed that this behavior can help populations survive after their habitat has been degraded. This is being studied in the White-breasted Thrasher, a cooperatively breeding bird that lives on two small islands in the Caribbean. This species is endangered, with only 1000 individuals remaining in the largest population. It is of particular interest because several years ago part of its habitat was impacted to create a resort. It is predicted that that groups with cooperative breeders will increase in size. The proposed research combines field work with modeling to determine the role cooperative breeding as a possible buffer to extinction and the extinction risk for this species. In addition to helping understand extinction risk, this work will contribute directly to conservation of an endangered species. It is listed on the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is the second-most endangered cooperatively breeding bird in the world. Results from this research will inform management actions to reduce extinction risk of the species, including animal translocations, forest restoration, and nature reserve design. In addition, through organization of after-school workshops and mentoring of undergraduates, this work will use birds to educate young people from both the Caribbean and the US about biological diversity and scientific research.

众所周知，当种群数量较少时，一些社会行为会导致灭绝风险增加。例如，当个体数量很少时，群体防御捕食者的能力就会崩溃。然而，人们对其另一面知之甚少——一些社会行为如何保护小种群免遭灭绝。这项拨款支持的研究主要集中在一种被称为合作繁殖的不寻常的社会行为上，即一年的后代放弃繁殖，帮助父母抚养下一年的后代。有人提出，这种行为可以帮助种群在栖息地退化后生存下来。这是一种生活在加勒比海两个小岛上的合作繁殖鸟类——白胸脱毛鸟的研究结果。这个物种濒临灭绝，最大的种群只剩下1000只。人们对它特别感兴趣，因为几年前，它的部分栖息地受到影响，成为一个度假胜地。据预测，有合作育种者的群体将扩大规模。该研究将实地考察与建模相结合，以确定合作繁殖作为该物种灭绝缓冲和灭绝风险的可能作用。除了帮助了解灭绝风险，这项工作将直接有助于保护濒危物种。它被列入美国濒危物种法案，是世界上第二濒危的合作繁殖鸟类。研究结果将为减少物种灭绝风险的管理行动提供参考，包括动物迁移、森林恢复和自然保护区的设计。此外，通过组织课外研讨会和指导本科生，这项工作将利用鸟类教育来自加勒比和美国的年轻人关于生物多样性和科学研究。