Date of Defense
12-14-2018
Date of Graduation
12-2018
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Sharon Gill
Second Advisor
Maarten Vonhof
Abstract
Past research and local observations show that variation exists within the songs produced by male Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla), but it is unknown why individuals sing the songs that they do or what the consequences of singing these particular songs might be. This research aims to unravel a crucial part of the mystery surrounding song variation within Field Sparrow populations by looking at the effects of indirect ecological selection on the morphological trait of bill size on song characteristics, such as frequency and duration. By identifying the relationship between this morphological trait and song structure, we hope to broaden our understanding of why this song variation exists within Field Sparrow populations and identify avenues for future research in exploring how this might impact potential speciation events.
Recommended Citation
Lilac, Annie, "Morphological mechanics: Studying the relationship between bill morphology and song characteristics in Field Sparrows" (2018). Honors Theses. 3041.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/3041
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Restricted