The evolutionary ecology of visual communication in birds: proximate mechanism, signal function, and evolution

我的研究以鸟类羽毛着色为模型系统，探索动物视觉交流的生态和进化。禽类羽毛着色有多种功能。神秘的羽毛颜色可以为筑巢的雌性鸟类提供伪装，而鲜艳的羽毛颜色可以作为雄性鸟类健康、状况或遗传质量的信号。在接下来的五年里，我的研究将探索控制野生鸟类羽毛颜色的最接近的机制，探索颜色变化对生存和繁殖成功的影响，并记录感知环境对多种鸟类不同颜色进化的影响。我和我的学生将通过对三种五颜六色的鸟类进行平行研究来解决这些研究目标：北美林莺、树燕和新热带人造鸟。我将与我的学生一起，使用结合实地考察、博物馆调查和实验室分析的综合方法，探索这些鸟类群体的视觉交流的生态学和进化。我们将使用创新的研究工具和方法，以无与伦比的严谨程度调查动物的颜色。NSERC要求的支持将用于研究生和本科生的培训、生物站的使用费、前往我们研究地点的旅行，以及我们的分子生态分析所需的消耗品供应。我的发现将丰富我们对进化生态学基本原理的理解，同时增强我们对加拿大和热带鸣禽繁殖生物学的了解。这些数据对于确保保护和维持可存活的繁殖鸟类种群至关重要。我的研究计划将强调对一大批学生和技术人员进行广泛的研究方法培训，为他们提供技术专业知识，为他们的科学生涯做准备。NSERC的支持对我的研究项目的执行和成功至关重要。

My research explores the ecology and evolution of visual communication in animals, using bird plumage colouration as a model system. Avian plumage colouration serves many functions. Cryptic plumage colouration can provide camouflage for nesting females, whereas brilliant plumage colours can function as signals of health, condition, or genetic quality in male birds. Over the next five years, my research will investigate the proximate mechanisms controlling plumage colouration in wild birds, explore the consequences of variation in colour on survival and reproductive success, and document the influence of the perceptual environment on the evolution of different colours across multiple bird species. My students and I will address these research objectives through parallel studies of three colourful groups of birds: North American wood warblers, tree swallows, and Neotropical manakins.          Together with my students, I will use an integrative approach combining field studies, museum investigations, and laboratory analyses to explore the ecology and evolution of visual communication in these groups of birds. We will implement the use of innovative research tools and methodologies to investigate animal colouration with an unparalleled degree of rigor. The support requested from NSERC will fund the training of graduate and undergraduate students, user fees at biological stations, travel to our study sites, and the consumable supplies required for our molecular ecology analyses. My findings will enrich our understanding of fundamental principles in evolutionary ecology while enhancing our knowledge of the breeding biology of Canadian and tropical songbirds. Such data are crucial to ensuring the protection and maintenance of viable populations of breeding birds. My research program will emphasize the training of a large group of students and technicians in a broad array of research methodologies, providing them with technical expertise that will prepare them for scientific careers. NSERC support is essential to the execution and success of my research program.