NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology for FY 2011

这一行动资助了NSF 2011财年生物学博士后研究奖学金，生物学与数学和物理科学的交叉点。该奖学金支持在东道主实验室为这位生物学、数学和统计学交叉学科的研究员制定研究和培训计划。朱莉·杰迪卡的这项研究和培训计划的标题是《高级捕食者的猎物选择：西方蓝鸟在斑驳环境中觅食的建模》。这项研究的主办机构是加州大学伯克利分校，赞助科学家罗德里戈·阿尔梅达博士、佩里·德·瓦尔平博士和韦恩·盖茨博士。食虫鸟类是一种无处不在的多营养级捕食者，其生态功能鲜为人知，主要是因为它们的高流动性和对相对较小的生物体的捕食而使研究人员无法了解它们的消费模式。这项研究开发了新的实验技术，对模型捕食者西部蓝鸟(Sialia Miciana)的猎物进行量化。食物是通过在斑驳环境中觅食的雏鸟和成年蓝鸟的粪便DNA进行分析的。通过将这些数据与田间节肢动物的可获得性和猎物的消耗量配对，正在从分层统计模型、动态状态变量模型和生物量转换方法中开发定制的数学模型，以模拟食物网中的种群。科学成果包括量化以前无法实现的觅食生态位的跨学科技术，以及理解高阶捕食者灭绝或外来入侵的生态后果。培训目标包括获得数学建模和统计方面的专业知识。这项研究的更广泛影响包括通过研讨会和现有计划扩大参与范围，接触不同的学生群体。数学模型和序列数据正在网上和通过现有的开放数据库提供。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2011, Intersections of Biology and Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The fellowship supports a research and training plan in a host laboratory for the Fellow at the intersection of biology with mathematics and statistics. The title of the research and training plan for this fellowship to Julie Jedicka is "Prey selection by high order predators: modeling Western Bluebird foraging in patchy environments." The host institution for this research is University of California, Berkeley with sponsoring scientists Drs. Rodrigo Almeida, Perry de Valpine and Wayne Getz. Insectivorous birds are ubiquitous, multi-trophic-level predators, whose ecological function is poorly understood, primarily because their consumption patterns elude researchers due to their high mobility and predation of relatively small organisms. This research develops novel experimental techniques that quantify the prey of a model predator, the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana). Diet is analyzed through fecal DNA of nestling and adult bluebirds foraging in patchy environments. By pairing these data with arthropod availability in the field and prey consumed, customized mathematical models are being developed drawing from hierarchical statistical models, dynamic state variable models, and a biomass transformation approach to model populations in food webs. The scientific payoff includes interdisciplinary techniques for quantifying foraging niches not previously attainable and for understanding the ecological consequences of high order predator extinctions or exotic invasions.Training goals include gaining expertise in mathematical modeling and statistics. Broader impacts of this research include outreach to diverse student groups through workshops and existing programs to broaden participation. Mathematical models and sequence data are being made available on the web and through existing open databases.