RUI / LTREB -- Long-term Investigation of Territorial Behavior and Population Dynamics in the Common Loon

这个项目关注的是95对在美国北部和加拿大的湖泊上繁殖的水鸟。该研究考察了三个主要主题：1)雄性之间为争夺领土而进行的致命战斗；2)使用“约德尔”叫声来保卫领土；3)受到海岸线开发、娱乐活动和甲基汞毒性影响威胁的种群稳定性。这项研究需要用腿带标记潜鸟，从独木舟上观察，以及简单的实验，如播放领土呼叫和放置潜鸟诱饵。这个研究项目解决有关动物行为的科学问题。其中一个问题是“为什么长寿的物种在可以获得附近未使用的繁殖空间时，会为争夺领土而进行致命的战斗？”因为研究者在研究种群中有大量已知年龄的鸟类样本，所以有可能测试几个假设来回答这个问题，包括致命的战斗者是没有什么可失去的老居民的假设。潜鸟是非常有魅力的鸟类，它们的行为发现将通过流行文章、媒体报道和教育网站传播。该项目的另一个目标——测量种群稳定性和甲基汞的影响——将决定州和联邦机构是否应该研究提高潜鸟繁殖成功率和减少工业来源的汞排放的方法。该项目延续了一所小型学院和一所主要研究型大学之间长达15年的富有成效的合作关系，该大学每年培训5名本科生，学习动物实地研究所需的技术。

This project focuses on 95 territorial pairs of common loons, aquatic birds that breed on lakes across the northern U.S. and Canada. The research examines three chief topics: 1) fatal fighting among males for territories, 2) use of the 'yodel' call to defend territories, and 3) stability of a population that is threatened by shoreline development, recreational activity and the toxic effects of methylmercury. This study requires marking of loons with leg bands, observation from canoes, and simple experiments such as playbacks of territorial calls and placement of loon decoys. This research project addresses scientific questions about animal behavior. One such question is 'Why do long lived species engage in lethal battles for territory when they have access to unused breeding space nearby?'. Because the investigator has a large sample of known-age birds in the study population, it will be possible to test several hypotheses to answer the question, including the hypothesis that fatal battlers are old residents with nothing to lose. Loons are very charismatic birds, and behavioral findings will be disseminated through popular articles, media coverage and educational websites for schoolchildren. An additional aim of the project - measurement of population stability and impacts of methylmercury - will determine whether state and federal agencies should study means to increase loon reproductive success and reduce emissions of mercury from industrial sources. The project extends a fruitful 15 year partnership between a small college and a major research university that trains 5 undergraduates annually in techniques required for field study of animals.