| Education: M.D.
National Taiwan University 2003
Awards:
Taiwan MOE scholarship 2005-2008
Evolution
of brooding behavior and development of endothermy in birds Objectives:
Study of the variation of life history strategies and underlying
mechanisms across latitudes provides us a window for understanding
evolution of these strategies. My research focuses on variation
in brooding behavior (parents sitting on young to keep
them warm) for altricial birds (mostly passerines). In the
nestling
period, parental behavior is constrained by the development
of endothermy in nestlings. Parents face a dilemma to either
feed or brood young. This project focuses on the question:
how much and why do species differ in their reproductive
strategies and endothermic development? To further understand
mechanisms
driving the pattern, some important ecological factors,
such as food and predation, will be examined. I began studies
in Arizona and will continue for a second year, and then
will
continue work in Taiwan for the following two years to
provide
latitudinal comparisons. The results will help improve
understanding of the evolution of life history in birds and
provide insights
for conservation by providing information on how the changing
environment might affect the breeding behavior in birds.
Progress:
I completed my first field season this summer in Coconino National
Forest in Arizona and collected data from 9 species (passerines)
and 22 nests. I am now compiling and analyzing data and watching
the videotapes with all the behavior information. These data
will be used to refine work and tests in the next field season.
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