Mobile lab for behavioural and evolutionary ecology

这是一项资金申请，用于购买一辆小型货车，作为我们研究鸟类、鱼类和青蛙的行为和进化的流动研究实验室。我们的研究通常在当地和偏远地区进行了9个月(3月至11月)的实地考察，主要是在北美东部。这辆车将用来将我们的人员和研究设备运送到这些现场，同时也是我们在现场时的移动研究实验室。为了将这辆车用作移动实验室，我们将在后面安装一个工作台，配备一个电源插座，这样我们就可以在车内安装和操作各种研究设备。我们将使用这一实验室设置(I)使用连接在笔记本电脑上的便携式反射光谱仪来量化鸟类的羽毛颜色，(Ii)使用负相差显微镜和计算机监控的数字摄像机来分析鱼类和鸟类的精子，(Iii)通过笔记本电脑来分析鸟类和青蛙的歌唱、操纵和回放，以及(Iv)使用专门设计的用于歌曲回放的设备来选择青蛙配偶，并使用红外数字摄像技术记录青蛙的运动，同样由计算机监控。购买这台设备为我们节省了相当多的车辆租赁费用，并允许我们将车辆内部改装为移动实验室。

This is an application for funds to purchase a minivan for use as a mobile research lab in our studies of the behaviour and evolution of birds, fishes and frogs. Our research involves typically 9 months (Mar-Nov) in the field at both local and remote sites , mainly in eastern North America. This vehicle will be used to transport our personnel and research equipment to these field sites, but also to function as a mobile research lab while we are in the field. To use this vehicle as a mobile lab we will install a bench in the back, supplied with an electrical outlet so that we can setup and operate a variety of research equipment inside the vehicle. We will use this lab setup for (i) quantifying bird plumage colours using a portable reflectance spectrometer attached to a notebook computer, (ii) fish and bird sperm analysis using a negative phase contrast microscope and computer-monitored digital videocam, (iii) bird and frog song analysis, manipulation and playback via notebook computer, and (iv) frog mate choice using a specially designed apparatus for song playback, and recording of frog movement using infrared digital videography, again monitored by computer. The purchase of this equipment offers us considerable savings over vehicle rentals and allows us to modify the vehicle interior for use as a mobile lab.