I am interested in understanding how bird songs, plumages and "dances" are shaped by social environment and especially mate choice. I am also interested in the physiological mechanisms underlying sexual trait development and expression.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Adult neurogenesis and singing behavior in Fife fancy canaries
Songbirds have high rates of neurogenesis particularly within the song control system - a specialized network of brain nuclei that control singing behavior. I am studying the influence of photoperiod at the end of the breeding season on reproductive physiology, singing behavior, and neural characteristics.
Sonogram of typical canary trills

A second project aims to understand the specific role of new neurons incorporated in the HVC (motor nucleus part of the song control system) at the onset of the breeding season.
Arrows showing the limits of the HVC nucleus with DCX-stained neurons that recently migrated into the area.
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PAST PROJECTS:

1. Development of display behavior in golden-collared manakins

I am comparing the display behavior of juveniles and adults to determine what elements vary and if hormone implants (testosterone) result in juvenile "improvement" in display behavior. I have also recently compared the vocal behavior of juveniles and adults and found slight differences in the performance of the male "cheepoo" vocalization between groups. 

2. Activation of courtship display in female golden-collared manakins 

I have also used hormone implants to show that female golden-collared manakins treated with testosterone perform some of the acrobatic courtship display tipical of males. This suggests that the neural circuitry involved in the display behavior is developed in females or develops rapidly in response to hormone treatment.

3. Are fast moves characteristic of the courtship display useful in a predator-escape context?

I have completed experiments with presentations of predator models to determine the "escape speed" of golden-collared manakins compared to that of other forest species that lack an acrobatic courtship display. I hope to determine if male ability to perform fast jumps part of the courtship display could be useful in a predator escape context. 

4. Check my next page to learn about my recently completed project looking at differences in display behavior of golden-collared manakins on Escudo Island!
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​I used a large outdoor aviary to perform observations of display behavior for juvenile males and females during experiments with hormone implants (projects 1 & 2 above). 

















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