Behavioural and physiological monitoring of sea ducks over the annual cycle

鸟类是高度移动的动物。特别是，候鸟跨越边界，在大的地理范围（300-8000公里）的不同地点繁殖、换羽和越冬。这一特点使得候鸟的研究和保护具有挑战性。在拟议的研究计划中，我的目标是描述海鸭的年度周期，并了解如何将各个生物阶段按时间顺序和精力整合到育种成功。我将使用（1）微型数据记录系统来监测生理（心率和体温）和行为（飞行和潜水）参数，（2）收集标本来监测体重和身体器官，（3）繁殖生物学观察，将年度周期中发生的事件与繁殖成功联系起来。我相信这项研究可能是候鸟研究的一个突破，因为它基于一种创新的方法，可以记录野外个体的高度相关信息，这是无法通过其他方式获得的。

Birds are highly mobile animals. In particular, migratory birds cross frontiers to breed, moult and winter at various locations over large geographic scales (300-8000 km). This very characteristic makes the study and conservation of migrating birds challenging. In the proposed research program, my aim is to describe the annual cycle of sea ducks and understand how the various biological phases are integrated chronologically and energetically in relation to breeding success. I will use (1) miniature data logging systems to monitor physiological (heart rate and body temperature) and behavioural (flying and diving) parameters, (2) collection of specimens to monitor body mass and body organs and, (3) breeding biology observations to relate events occurring during the annual cycle with breeding success. I believe that this research could be a breakthrough in the study of migratory birds in general because it is based on an innovative approach that allow the recording of highly pertinent information of individuals in the wild, that could not be otherwise obtained.