Mobile lab for behavioural and evolutionary ecology

这是一份申请，申请购买一辆小型货车作为移动研究实验室，用于研究鸟类、鱼类和青蛙的行为和进化。我们的研究通常需要9个月（3月至11月），在当地和偏远地区进行实地考察，主要在北美东部。这辆车将用于将我们的人员和研究设备运送到这些实地地点，但当我们在实地时，它也将发挥移动研究实验室的作用。为了将这辆车用作移动实验室，我们将在后面安装一个工作台，配有电源插座，这样我们就可以在车内安装和操作各种研究设备。我们将使用该实验室设置(i)使用连接在笔记本电脑上的便携式反射光谱仪定量鸟类羽毛的颜色，（ii）使用负相差显微镜和计算机监控的数字摄像机分析鱼类和鸟类精子，（iii）通过笔记本电脑分析鸟类和青蛙的歌声，操作和播放，以及（iv）使用专门设计的设备进行青蛙的配偶选择歌曲播放，并使用红外数字摄像记录青蛙的运动。再次由电脑监控。购买该设备为我们提供了相当可观的节省车辆租赁，并允许我们修改车辆内部使用作为一个移动实验室。

This is an application for funds to purchase a minivan for use as a mobile research lab in our studies of the behaviour and evolution of birds, fishes and frogs. Our research involves typically 9 months (Mar-Nov) in the field at both local and remote sites , mainly in eastern North America. This vehicle will be used to transport our personnel and research equipment to these field sites, but also to function as a mobile research lab while we are in the field. To use this vehicle as a mobile lab we will install a bench in the back, supplied with an electrical outlet so that we can setup and operate a variety of research equipment inside the vehicle. We will use this lab setup for (i) quantifying bird plumage colours using a portable reflectance spectrometer attached to a notebook computer, (ii) fish and bird sperm analysis using a negative phase contrast microscope and computer-monitored digital videocam, (iii) bird and frog song analysis, manipulation and playback via notebook computer, and (iv) frog mate choice using a specially designed apparatus for song playback, and recording of frog movement using infrared digital videography, again monitored by computer. The purchase of this equipment offers us considerable savings over vehicle rentals and allows us to modify the vehicle interior for use as a mobile lab.