RUI / LTREB -- Long-term Investigation of Territorial Behavior and Population Dynamics in the Common Loon

RUI / LTREB——潜鸟领地行为和种群动态的长期调查

• 批准号: 0717055
• 负责人: Walter Piper
• 金额: $ 35.69万
• 依托单位: Chapman University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-08-01 至 2012-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0717055&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; LTREB; Long; term; Investigation

This project focuses on 95 territorial pairs of common loons, aquatic birds that breed on lakes across the northern U.S. and Canada. The research examines three chief topics: 1) fatal fighting among males for territories, 2) use of the 'yodel' call to defend territories, and 3) stability of a population that is threatened by shoreline development, recreational activity and the toxic effects of methylmercury. This study requires marking of loons with leg bands, observation from canoes, and simple experiments such as playbacks of territorial calls and placement of loon decoys. This research project addresses scientific questions about animal behavior. One such question is 'Why do long lived species engage in lethal battles for territory when they have access to unused breeding space nearby?'. Because the investigator has a large sample of known-age birds in the study population, it will be possible to test several hypotheses to answer the question, including the hypothesis that fatal battlers are old residents with nothing to lose. Loons are very charismatic birds, and behavioral findings will be disseminated through popular articles, media coverage and educational websites for schoolchildren. An additional aim of the project - measurement of population stability and impacts of methylmercury - will determine whether state and federal agencies should study means to increase loon reproductive success and reduce emissions of mercury from industrial sources. The project extends a fruitful 15 year partnership between a small college and a major research university that trains 5 undergraduates annually in techniques required for field study of animals.

该项目重点关注 95 对普通潜鸟，它们是在美国北部和加拿大的湖泊中繁殖的水禽。该研究考察了三个主要主题：1）雄性之间为争夺领地而发生的致命战斗，2）使用“约德尔”叫声来保卫领地，3）受到海岸线开发、娱乐活动和有毒影响威胁的种群稳定性。甲基汞。这项研究需要用腿带标记潜鸟，从独木舟上进行观察，以及简单的实验，例如播放领地叫声和放置潜鸟诱饵。该研究项目解决有关动物行为的科学问题。其中一个问题是“当长寿物种可以进入附近未使用的繁殖空间时，为什么它们会为了领地而进行致命的战斗？”。由于调查人员在研究群体中拥有大量已知年龄的鸟类样本，因此可以检验几个假设来回答这个问题，包括假设致命的战斗者是没有什么可失去的老居民。潜鸟是非常有魅力的鸟类，行为研究结果将通过热门文章、媒体报道和学童教育网站传播。该项目的另一个目标——测量种群稳定性和甲基汞的影响——将决定州和联邦机构是否应该研究提高潜鸟繁殖成功率和减少工业来源汞排放的方法。该项目延续了一所小型学院和一所主要研究型大学之间长达 15 年的富有成果的合作伙伴关系，该大学每年培训 5 名本科生进行动物实地研究所需的技术。