Rigid-hull inflatable boat for field research on avian ecology, evolution and conservation

我们请求NSERC支持刚性船体充气船（RIB），用于现场研究的五个高度活跃的调查人员和他们的研究小组设在圭尔夫大学，不列颠哥伦比亚省大学，西蒙弗雷泽大学和维多利亚大学。 研究所的研究项目涉及广泛的鸟类保护，生态学和进化的实地研究。 该RIB将在一年中的所有12个月内使用，并发挥以下功能：（1）在Desolation Sound和BC南部和中部海岸沿着的其他地点采集大理石纹海雀样本，以测试饮食质量是否影响繁殖成功，（2）在温哥华岛西南海岸沿着对大理石纹海雀进行海上调查，（3）研究阿拉斯加东南部的冲浪和白翅苏格兰鹬的蜕皮生态学，（4）收集血液样本和重新观察彩色条纹歌雀，以及对不列颠哥伦比亚省格鲁吉亚海峡的海湾群岛的鸟类群落进行系统的存在/不存在调查，（5）研究格鲁吉亚海峡的巴罗金眼的种群结构和人口统计学;（6）在温哥华岛和不列颠哥伦比亚省南部海岸的不同地点采集水柱中的沙矛样本。 使用车辆收集现场数据和培训学生是必不可少的所有PI的研究计划。 没有一个申请人有资金购买这些项目的黄道带。 如果没有收到资金，PI将需要使用其他来源（例如探索补助金）租用RIB，占其年度支出的很大一部分，否则将用于支持和培训学生。 在接下来的五年里，四个博士。学生，八个硕士学生，九个本科论文的学生，二十四个本科现场技术人员和两个博士后将受益于使用这艘船进行现场研究（总HQP = 47）。 所有这些学生将接受野外生物学和鸟类学方面的高级技能培训。 因此，购买这艘潜艇将是一件非常有价值的训练和研究设备。

We request NSERC support for a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB) to be used in field research by five highly active investigators and their research teams based at the University of Guelph, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria.  The research programs of PIs involve extensive field research on avian conservation, ecology, and evolution.  This RIB will be used for all 12 months of the year and serve the following functions: (1) sample marbled murrelets in Desolation Sound and other locations along southern and central coasts of BC to test if diet quality influences reproductive success, (2) conduct at-sea surveys of  marbled murrelets along the SW coast of Vancouver Island, (3) study the molting ecology of surf and white-winged scoters in southeast Alaska, (4) collect blood samples and re-sight colour-banded song sparrows, as well as conduct systematic presence/absence surveys of the avian community in the Gulf Islands, Straight of Georgia, BC, (5) examine the population structure and demography of Barrow's goldeneye in the Straight of Georgia, and (6) sample sand lance from the water column at various sites on Vancouver Island and the southern coast of British Columbia.  Use of a vehicle to collect field data and train students is essential for all PIs research programs.  None of the applicants have funding to purchase a zodiac for these projects.  If funds are not received, PIs will need to rent RIBs using other sources (e.g. Discovery Grant), representing a significant proportion of their annual expenses that would otherwise be used to support and train students.  During the next five years, four Ph.D. students, eight M.Sc. students, nine undergraduate thesis students, twenty-four undergraduate field technicians, and two postdocs will benefit from using this boat for field research (total HQP = 47).  All of these students will be trained in advanced skills in field biology and ornithology.  Acquisition of this boat will, therefore, be an extraordinarily valuable piece of equipment for training and conducting research.