Dissertation Research: Stop-Over Ecology of Intercontinental Avian Migrants

9623556摩尔鸟类迁徙的复杂性源于一系列广泛的因素。生理、行为、生态和物理环境塑造并制约着迁徙的时空分布、行为和生态的可观察模式。这些模式的总和可以被认为是应对季节性长途流动挑战的总体“迁徙战略”。虽然不同种类的候鸟有不同的迁徙策略，但同一物种中不同年龄或不同性别的个体在迁徙行为上也表现出差异。物种内的差异是如何调节的，以及为什么会出现这些差异，这是这个奖项的重点。这项研究将确定雄性和雌性洲际候鸟差异迁徙的原因和生态后果。将检验两个假设：1)差异移徙是男女竞争的直接结果，或者已经演变为通过不同的资源使用来消除这种竞争的一种手段；以及2)差异移徙是生殖和生存成本基于性别的差异的结果。研究结果将确定促进鸣禽成功迁徙的环境因素。这样，这项研究将有助于管理和保护鸣禽种群和生物多样性。由于鸟类对某些森林生态系统中的害虫种群有很强的控制作用，对其进行保护的研究对森林资源的完整性和健康具有重要意义。

9623556 Moore The complexity of bird migration derives from a wide array of factors. Physiology, behavior, ecology, and the physical environment shape and constrain observable patterns of migrant spatial and temporal distribution, behavior, and ecology. The sum of these patterns can be considered the overall "migration strategy" for dealing with the challenge of seasonal long-distance movements. While a diversity of migration strategies exist among species of migratory birds, individuals of different ages or genders within a species also exhibit differences in migratory behavior. The question of how such within-species differences are mediated and why these differences occur is the focus of this award. The research will identify the causes and ecological consequences of differential migration of male and female intercontinental migratory songbirds. Two hypotheses will be tested: 1) differential migration is the direct result of male-female competition or has evolved as a means of eliminating such competition through divergent use of resources; and 2) differential migration is a result of gender-based variation in the costs of reproduction and survival. Findings will identify environmental factors that facilitate successful migration in songbirds. In so doing, the research will contribute to the management and conservation of songbird populations and biodiversity. As bird species exert strong controls over insect pest populations in some forest ecosystems, research aimed at their conservation has implications for the integrity and health of forest resources.