RUI: Mechanisms Regulating Facultative Migrations of the Pine Siskin

GSTDTAP

项目编号	1456954
	RUI: Mechanisms Regulating Facultative Migrations of the Pine Siskin
	Heather Watts
主持机构	Loyola Marymount University
项目开始年	2015
	2015-05-15
项目结束日期	2018-04-30
资助机构	US-NSF
项目类别	Continuing grant
项目经费	160333(USD)
国家	美国
语种	英语
英文摘要	Proposal Title: RUI: Mechanisms regulating facultative migrations of the Pine Siskin Institutions: Loyola Marymount University, and a partnership with UC-Davis Abstract Date: 03/13/2015 Migratory behavior can be characterized by regular and predictable seasonal and directional movements, or the movements may be much less predictable with respect to both timing and direction. The less predictable movements, known as facultative migration, are much more difficult to study. This project will investigate the drivers of facultative migration in a captive species of bird, the pine siskin (Spinus pinus). The goals of the project are to assess 1) What cue(s) trigger the development of a migratory stage; and 2) What endocrine hormones mediate the migratory response? Four cues (photoperiod, food availability, population density, and mate availability) and two hormones (corticosterone and testosterone) will be investigated. Understanding how animals respond to environmental variability is critical in today's changing climate. The project will train a post-graduate researcher at a primarily undergraduate institution, and will involve large numbers of undergraduates, including those from underrepresented groups. The lead investigator is a beginning investigator. The project will systematically and comprehensively investigate the mechanisms underlying facultative migration, a suite of behaviors that are taxonomically widespread. It is the captive avian model organism that enables this research. Four different hypotheses will be investigated as part of the first goal of the project: (i) an increasing photoperiod stimulates facultative migration in the spring; (ii) declining food availability stimulates the development of migration; (iii) high local population density, prior to a decline in food availability, can trigger the transition to a migratory  stage; and (iv) that a shortage of potential mates can stimulate migration around the time of breeding. Two additional hypotheses will be investigated as part of the second goal: (i) increased circulating corticosterone levels stimulate  the development of a migratory stage; and (ii) the transition to a migratory stage is stimulated  by increased circulating testosterone levels. Experiments will include manipulating the environmental triggers and tracking behavioral and physiological responses, and direct manipulation of the endocrine hormones. The combined approaches will provide significant opportunities for research training at a primarily undergraduate institution. The team will work with the Loyola Marymount University Center for Urban Resilience to develop and disseminate materials to be used in Los Angeles area schools.
来源学科分类	Geosciences - Polar Programs
文献类型	项目
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/212885
专题	环境与发展全球科技态势
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Heather Watts.RUI: Mechanisms Regulating Facultative Migrations of the Pine Siskin.2015.