Urban-dependent selection on bird song
We look at the factors that influence the evolution of bird song in the urban environment. We compare current and historical songs from urban and rural habitats for a subspecies of white-crowned sparrows (WCSP, Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli) and use this system to compare evolutionary trajectories of each location. We ask questions, such as: (1) how are birds adjusting their song to the urban environment?; (2) how has song urbanization affected signal salience?; and (3) are urban songs adaptive? This work is changing how we think about urban-dependent selection on mating behaviors and, more broadly, the adaptations of species that persist in urban environments. Results inform both our understanding of how acoustic communication systems evolve as well as urban conservation efforts.
Singing in the heat
Rising temperatures are a global challenge to organisms across the tree of life. Heat waves cause mass mortality events in animals, but less well studied are the sub-lethal effects of heat on animal behavior, particularly mating-related behaviors such as communication. We use controlled experiments with a well-studied avian species (Taeniopygia castanotis) to ask questions, such as: (1) How does heat affect male song production and female preferences for songs?; (2) How does acclimation to heat alter communication under thermally challenging conditions?; and, (3) What are the intrinsic mechanisms that differentiate behaviorally heat-tolerant and intolerant individuals? We seek to build robust theory on functional, behavioral responses to the ever-increasing threat of heat.
Derryberry Lab 