Dissertation Research: Sexual Conflict and Constraints on Female Breeding Tactics in a Monogamous Passerine

非技术性总结 生态因素对生物体的行为有多种影响。然而，对于这些因素如何转化为不同的行为决策，我们所知甚少。这项研究将解决生态和社会变量影响繁殖过程中的行为决策很少研究迁徙鸣禽，黄胸聊天。无线电遥测、分子遗传学、行为观察和实地实验的结合将被用来跟踪雄性和雌性的运动、交配模式和行为选择。此外，还将测量生态变量（植被密度和食物丰富度）。这项研究将评估聊天（特别是女性）的经常神秘的动作，后代的亲子关系，每种性别的行为相对于另一个，以及对个体生殖成功的后果。 这项研究有几个重要的科学特征。 首先，它将测试一般过程，提出了更多的理论文献，塑造男性/女性的互动。其次，它将提供一个更详细的了解生态因素对繁殖行为的影响。这些特征将为了解一种鲜为人知的迁徙鸣禽所面临的潜在问题提供有价值的见解，并揭示克服这些问题的一些方法。最后，该项目将加强对有前途的研究生和本科生的培训。

Non-technical Summary Ecological factors have a variety of effects on the behavior of organisms. However, relatively little is known in detail about how these factors translate into different behavioral decisions. This study will address ecological and social variables affecting behavioral decisions during reproduction in a seldom-studied migratory songbird, the yellow-breasted chat. A combination of radiotelemetry, molecular genetics, behavioral observation and field experiments will be used to follow the movements, mating patterns, and behavioral choices of both males and females. Additionally ecological variables (vegetation density and food abundance) will be measured. This study will assess the often cryptic movements of chats (particularly females), offspring paternity, behavior of each sex in relation to the other, and the consequences for the reproductive success of individuals. This study has several scientifically important features. First, it will test general processes, proposed in more theoretical literature, shaping male/female interactions. Second, it will provide a more detailed understanding of the effect of ecological factors on breeding behavior. These features will offer valuable insight into the potential problems faced by a little-known migratory songbird and also uncover some of the ways in which these problems are overcome. Finally, this project will enhance the training of promising graduate and undergraduate students.