Vehicle for large-scale field experiments and surveys

对从事野外研究的生物学家来说，使用可靠的交通工具是必不可少的。这项NSERC RTI提案要求为丰田Sienna CE小型货车提供资金，由两个研究项目共享。其中一个项目由马塞尔·多尔肯（Marcel Dorken）领导，涉及大规模的实地实验和跨越相当地理距离的种群抽样。本研究计划的目标是研究植物种群的进化和生态学，特别关注开花植物中最常见的雌雄同体和雌雄异株之间的进化转变。第二个研究项目由加里·伯内斯（Gary Burness）领导，旨在了解能量代谢如何影响野生鸟类的生活史策略和繁殖成功。目前的研究正在调查成年鸟类在压力下是否会调整后代的性别比例，以及成年鸟类对儿子和女儿的能量分配是否不同（考虑到抚养儿子的能量成本通常更高）。这两个研究项目都需要一辆具有灵活内部空间的车辆，用于(a)运输研究团队及其设备，以及(b)大量植物和组织样本。这款车型是唯一一款将灵活的内部空间与低运营成本（包括《消费者报告》和J.D. Power的最高燃油效率和可靠性评级）、牵引拖车的动力、5星级安全评级和全面保修结合在一起的车型。在多肯和伯恩斯实验室之间共享这辆车，将在一年的时间里最大限度地利用它。多肯实验室在夏季和秋季进行了大部分的实地实验和种群抽样。伯恩斯实验室在春季和初夏进行鸟类能量学的研究。由于无需租用几个月的大型车辆，一辆现场车辆将大大节省Dorken和Burness的运营补助金，并将在4年内收回成本。在预期的15年寿命中，它将节省12.5万美元的研究经费。

Access to a reliable vehicle is an essential requirement for biologists engaged in field research. This NSERC RTI proposal requests funding for a Toyota Sienna CE minivan to be shared between two research programs. One program, headed by Marcel Dorken, involves large-scale field experiments and the sampling of populations across substantial geographic distances. The goals of this research program are to investigate the evolution and ecology of plant populations with a specific focus on evolutionary transitions between hermaphroditism and dioecy, one of the most common evolutionary transitions in the flowering plants. The second research program, headed by Gary Burness, seeks to understand how energy metabolism influences life-history strategies and reproductive success in wild birds. Current research is investigating whether adult birds adjust sex ratios of their offspring when under stress, and whether adults allocate energy differently to sons versus daughters (given that sons are often energetically more costly to rear). Both of these research programs require a vehicle with flexible interior space for (a) the transport of research teams and their equipment, and (b) large numbers of plant and tissue samples. The proposed model is the only vehicle that combines a flexible interior space with low operating costs (including the highest fuel efficiency and reliability ratings from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power in its class), the power to tow a trailer, 5-star safety ratings and a comprehensive warranty. Sharing the vehicle between the Dorken and Burness labs will maximize its use over the course of a year. The Dorken lab conducts the majority of field experimentation and population sampling in the summer and autumn. The Burness lab conducts its research on avian energetics in the spring and early summer. By removing the need to rent large vehicles for several months, a field vehicle will result in substantial savings to the Dorken and Burness operating grants, and will pay for itself within 4 years. Over the course of an expected 15-year life span, it will save $125,000 in research funds.