Ecology and life history of alpine birds

高山鸟类的生态和生活史-鸟类是分布最广的陆栖脊椎动物，在海拔0-6000米的地方繁殖。我使用高山专家和“海拔通才”作为模式物种，研究鸟类的生态和生活史变化与海拔和环境变化的关系。与在低海拔和低纬度繁殖的动物相比，高山动物的非生物参数（温度、风、降水、积雪）经历了更多的变化和随机性。 每天的温度范围从<0 to >40摄氏度，但高山鸟类必须提供相同的缓冲热制度孵化鸡蛋和后方年轻的其他鸟类。我们的初步研究表明，随着海拔的增加，鸟类的繁殖时间减少了60%，与低海拔（LE）的鸟类相比，每年产生的后代减少了50-60%。 高山鸣禽的存活率比LE同种高15-20%，至少部分抵消了它们的繁殖力劣势。我的工作假设是，选择操作几个重要的速率和行为，让鸟类在高海拔（HE）繁殖，以转移到一个较慢的生活方式，增加成年人和青少年的生存补偿较低的年度繁殖力（需要权衡）。我们将调查寿命，繁殖物候，繁殖力和行为的鸣禽和松鸡，以确定一般的应对能力，在他使用温度和活动数据记录仪和行为研究标记的鸟类跨越纬度。对于适应HE的物种，我们的目标是确定的生理适应和/或遗传分化，使生存繁殖力的权衡，人口的机制，使他们的生活史沿着环境梯度，选择力驱动的权衡，和可塑性的作用，在生命率。大多数研究假设北极和高山栖息地是相似的环境，但塑造鸟类生活史的关键驱动因素可能不同。阿尔卑斯山栖息地正在经历全球变暖，栖息地升级和极端天气的显著增加。我们的研究将确定净效应，并改善气候变化对高山脊椎动物影响的预测。我将培训16名HQP（10名博士，3名硕士，3名PDF）和&gt;60名BSc HQP。

ECOLOGY AND LIFE HISTORY OF ALPINE BIRDS - Birds, the most widespread terrestrial vertebrates, breed from 0-6000 m asl. I use alpine specialists and 'elevational generalists' as model species to examine the ecology and life history variation of birds in relation to elevation and environmental variation. Animals in the alpine experience more variation and stochasticity in abiotic parameters (temperature, wind, precipitation, snow cover) than those breeding at lower elevations and latitudes. Daily temperatures range from <0 to >40 degC, but alpine birds must provide the same buffered thermal regime to incubate eggs and rear young as other birds. Our initial research reveals that as elevation increases, birds have 60% less time to breed and produce 50-60% fewer offspring annually compared with birds at lower elevation (LE). Alpine songbirds have 15-20% higher survival than LE conspecifics, offsetting at least partially their fecundity disadvantage. My working hypothesis is that selection operates on several vital rates and behaviours to allow birds breeding at high elevation (HE) to shift to a slower life style where increased survival of adults and juveniles compensates for lower annual fecundity (required for a tradeoff). We will investigate the longevity, breeding phenology, fecundity and behaviour of songbirds and grouse to determine the general coping abilities at HE using temperature and activity data loggers and behaviour studies on marked birds across latitudes. For species well adapted to HE, our objectives are to determine the physiological adaptations and/or genetic differentiation that allow survival-fecundity tradeoffs, the mechanisms whereby populations can shift their life history along an environmental gradient, which selective forces drive the tradeoff, and the role of plasticity in vital rates. Most studies assume that arctic and alpine habitats are comparable environments, but the key drivers shaping avian life histories may differ. Alpine habitats are experiencing globally significant increases in warming, habitat upshifting and extreme weather. Our research will determine net effects and improve predictions for climate change impacts on alpine vertebrates. I will train 16 HQP (10 PhD, 3 MSc, 3 PDF) and >60 BSc HQP.