SSA Brain and behaviour in bird nest building

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Birds' nests play a key role in avian reproduction. They act as a container for eggs and offer potential protection from predators, while aiding parents to create a microclimate that is optimal for incubation and rearing. Nests are built in a way that protects eggs and young from the surrounding environment, be it the cold, wind or solar radiation. Research has shown species build slightly difference nests depending on what environmental conditions they experience but little work has been done to see if individuals can adapt the way they build nests in response to a changing climate. I will be researching physical cognition and nest building in birds, using zebra finches as my study species. I will investigate whether zebra finches will select different materials for their nests when they experience different climates, and whether their material preference will change if they raise young successfully or not. I will then look to see if material preference changes as the climate changes, from example a hot previous breeding season to a cold breeding season. I will then be aiming to identify what sections of the brain are responsible for any potential nest building adaptations and general nest building behaviour.