DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Cross-Seasonal Interactions: The influence of over-winter habitat quality on the success of migration

许多动物在一年中的特定时期迁徙，在越冬和繁殖地点之间迁徙。具体地说，这项研究将测试越冬栖息地质量在迁徙开始时间、迁徙持续时间和到达繁殖区的时间中的作用，以及黑白莺在迁徙过程中停留在避难所补充燃料时补偿越冬栖息地质量的能力。这项研究将利用羽毛中稳定同位素的存在和血浆代谢物的数量来量化个体的状况，将迁徙的时间和距离与繁殖期间随后的繁殖成功和成功越冬的能力联系起来。关于中途停留区域活动的信息将有助于评估营养物质的携带情况，以及繁殖、迁徙和越冬之间的状况，以及整合年度生活史周期的所有阶段。这些数据将增强我们对个人生命周期不同阶段如何相互影响的理解。此外，该项目还将为来自代表性不足群体的研究生和本科生提供跨学科的生物学培训。

Many animals migrate during specific periods of the year, moving between wintering and breeding locations. Specifically this research will test the role of overwintering habitat quality in the timing of migration initiation, duration of migration and arrival at the breeding area, as well as ability of Black-and-white-warblers to compensate for the quality of the overwintering habitat while stopping at refugia to refuel during migration. This research will link the timing and distance of migration to subsequent reproductive success during the breeding period and ability to successfully survive the winter using the presence of stable isotopes in feathers and amount of plasma metabolites to quantify an individual's condition. Information about the activity at the stopover areas will allow assessment of the carry-over of nutrients and condition between breeding, migration and overwintering and the integration of all phases of the annual life history cycle. These data will enhance our understanding of how the different phases of an individual's life cycle influence each other. In addition, the project will also provide cross-disciplinary biological training for graduate and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups.