The evolutionary ecology of visual communication in birds: proximate mechanism, signal function, and evolution

我的研究以鸟类羽毛颜色为模型系统，探索动物视觉交流的生态学和进化。鸟类的羽毛着色有许多功能。隐匿的羽毛颜色可以为筑巢的雌性提供伪装，而鲜艳的羽毛颜色可以作为雄性鸟类健康、状况或遗传质量的信号。在接下来的五年里，我的研究将调查控制野生鸟类羽毛颜色的近似机制，探索颜色变化对生存和繁殖成功的影响，并记录感知环境对多种鸟类不同颜色进化的影响。我和我的学生将通过平行研究三种色彩斑斓的鸟类：北美林莺、树燕和新热带金丝雀来解决这些研究目标。与我的学生一起，我将采用综合的方法，结合实地研究，博物馆调查和实验室分析来探索这些鸟类群体的视觉交流的生态学和进化。我们将采用创新的研究工具和方法，以无与伦比的严谨程度调查动物的颜色。NSERC要求的支持将用于资助研究生和本科生的培训、生物站的使用费、到我们研究地点的旅费以及分子生态学分析所需的耗材。我的发现将丰富我们对进化生态学基本原理的理解，同时增强我们对加拿大和热带鸣禽繁殖生物学的认识。这些数据对于确保保护和维持繁殖鸟类的生存种群至关重要。我的研究计划将强调在广泛的研究方法方面对一大群学生和技术人员进行培训，为他们提供技术专长，为他们的科学事业做好准备。NSERC的支持对我的研究计划的执行和成功至关重要。

My research explores the ecology and evolution of visual communication in animals, using bird plumage colouration as a model system. Avian plumage colouration serves many functions. Cryptic plumage colouration can provide camouflage for nesting females, whereas brilliant plumage colours can function as signals of health, condition, or genetic quality in male birds. Over the next five years, my research will investigate the proximate mechanisms controlling plumage colouration in wild birds, explore the consequences of variation in colour on survival and reproductive success, and document the influence of the perceptual environment on the evolution of different colours across multiple bird species. My students and I will address these research objectives through parallel studies of three colourful groups of birds: North American wood warblers, tree swallows, and Neotropical manakins.          Together with my students, I will use an integrative approach combining field studies, museum investigations, and laboratory analyses to explore the ecology and evolution of visual communication in these groups of birds. We will implement the use of innovative research tools and methodologies to investigate animal colouration with an unparalleled degree of rigor. The support requested from NSERC will fund the training of graduate and undergraduate students, user fees at biological stations, travel to our study sites, and the consumable supplies required for our molecular ecology analyses. My findings will enrich our understanding of fundamental principles in evolutionary ecology while enhancing our knowledge of the breeding biology of Canadian and tropical songbirds. Such data are crucial to ensuring the protection and maintenance of viable populations of breeding birds. My research program will emphasize the training of a large group of students and technicians in a broad array of research methodologies, providing them with technical expertise that will prepare them for scientific careers. NSERC support is essential to the execution and success of my research program.