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.

Publications:

Cheng, Y., 2004. Observation on Breeding of Collard Scops Owl (Otus lettia) in Winter in National Taiwan University. Taiwan Raptor Research. No.3 p1-7.

Cheng, Y., Pei-Fen Lee. Effect of Landscape Structure on Avian Assemblages in Two Subtropical Forests of Northern Taiwan. (In prep.)