REU: Ecology and Evolution of Social Behavior

该项目旨在了解 通过关注一种常见的鸟类， 美国西部有着极不寻常的社会 橡子啄木鸟Acorn Woodpecker 这个物种生活在家庭 最多15人的群体，男女老少都有;所有 一群鸟共同保卫领地， 年轻 研究种群由大约120只鸟组成， 其中大部分是单独的颜色标记，并已被 自1971年以来一直持续。 因此，该项目允许 获得长期人口统计基本数据的独特机会 集体生活的后果。 它还允许调查 这表明了对群体生活的一些具体适应， 物种以及它们的优点和缺点 不寻常的社会组织 特别是，Koenig博士将 探索使用时间活动的群体生活的后果 预算，育雏减少的机制，以及声音的作用， 群体整合的行为。 基础研究所获得的数据， 该项目将提供新的信息， 对社会行为进化的理解。 在 特别是，它将揭示更多关于短期和 群体生活和利他主义的长期后果 这些行为，很多都是这个物种的表现。

This project seeks to understand the ecological basis of social behavior by focusing on a species of bird common in the Western United States with an extremely unusual social organization, the Acorn Woodpecker. This species lives in family groups of up to 15 individuals of both sexes and all ages; all birds in a group share in defending the territory and raising young. The study population consists of about 120 birds, the majority of which are individually color-marked, and has been going on continuously since 1971. Thus, the project allows the unique opportunity to obtain basic data on long-term demographic consequences of group living. It also allows an investigation of some of the specific adaptations to group living shown by this species as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their unusual social organization. In particular, Dr. Koenig will be exploring the consequences of group living using time-activity budgets, the mechanisms of brood reduction, and the role of vocal behavior in group integration. Data acquired by the basic research being done as part of this project will provide new information toward the understanding of the evolution of social behavior. In particular, it will uncover more about both the short-term and long-term consequences of group living and of altruistic behaviors, many of which are shown by this species.