Physiological mechanisms of migratory traits

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。每年秋天和春天，当鸟类在不同的地点之间迁徙繁殖和越冬生存时，翅膀会充满夜空。 然而，最近的报告表明，全世界移栖物种的数量正在迅速减少。 这些下降的原因一般归因于全球环境变化，但具体情况却知之甚少。 尽管鸟类迁徙已经被认识了几百年，但人们对环境条件如何影响迁徙的生理和行为机制的调节知之甚少。另一个谜是，尽管春季和秋季迁徙的距离和地形相似，但两个季节的气候条件和迁徙者的生理和行为状态却不同。建议的研究旨在确定的机制，春季和秋季迁徙的长途迁徙，甘贝尔的白冠麻雀。 比较是与近亲和非移民，纳托尔白冠麻雀。 这种性质的种内比较是罕见的，对于确定移民的适应至关重要。具体而言，诸如光周期（日长）等因素如何影响长距离（6000公里）迁移所需的行为、生理和生化变化？ 例如，移民必须增加食欲，以达到暂时的肥胖状态，并增加有氧能力和耐力的飞行肌肉等，以完成每一个迁徙回合。 研究将测试春季白天长度的增加如何影响进食，育肥以及骨骼和心脏肌肉。 比较将在秋季进行，那时白天的长度正在下降。这些研究的结果可能会提供复杂的线索，以确定环境如何影响移民，以减缓甚至防止这种显着的适应进一步丧失。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Each autumn and spring a rush of wings fill the night skies as birds migrate between distinct locations for breeding and the other for over-winter survival. However, recent reports indicate that the numbers of migratory species are rapidly declining worldwide. Reasons for these declines have been attributed in general to global environmental change but few specifics are known. Even though bird migration has been appreciated for hundreds of years, little is understood of how environmental conditions influence regulation of the physiological and behavioral mechanisms of migration. Another enigma is that even though spring and autumn migrations appear similar in distance and terrain covered, the climatic conditions and physiological and behavioral states of migrants in the two seasons differ. The studies proposed are designed to determine the mechanisms of both spring and autumn migrations in a long-distance migrant, the Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow. Comparisons are drawn with a close relative and non-migrant, Nuttalls White-crown Sparrow. Intraspecific comparisons of this nature are rare and vital for determining the adaptations of migrants. Specifically, how do such factors such as photoperiod (day length) affect the behavior, physiology and biochemical changes required to migrate long distances (6000 km)? For example, migrants must increase appetite to achieve a temporary state of obesity and increase aerobic capacity and endurance of flight muscles, etc. to complete each migratory bout. Studies will test how the spring increase in day length affects feeding, fattening and skeletal and heart muscles. Comparisons will be run in autumn, when day length is declining. Results from these studies may provide intricate clues for determining how the environment affects migrants in order to slow or even prevent further loss of this remarkable adaptation.