My research focuses on the effects that avian malarial parasites have on female reproductive success and offspring quality. To assess how malarial infection affects mothers and their offspring, I spent the spring and summer in the field at the Queen's University Biological Station catching female, adult red-winged blackbirds and treating them with either an antimalarial medication or a control solution. Female reproductive success was determined by looking at a variety of parameters, including incubation behaviour, which was measured using I-buttons (as seen in the photo). If experimental reduction of infection leads to higher reproductive success in females, I expected to find medicated females to be able to spend more time incubating their eggs. Our preliminary analysis shows that this is indeed the case.
Submission Year:
2018-19
Photographer's affiliation:
Postdoc
Academic areas:
Arts and Science
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Art of Research categories:
Out in the field
Photo:
Categories:
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Faculty of Arts and Science
Department of Biology
School of Graduate Studies
Ecology, Biodiversity and the Natural Environment
Sustainability, Environment and Resources
Protecting the Natural Environment
Location of photograph:
Queen's University Biological Station
Prize name:
Photographer's name:
Ivana Schoepf
Display Photographers Affiltion + Faculty or Department:
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Biology