Opportunities

FIELD WORK

The Project. -- We are looking for volunteer field assistants to assist in three long-term field
projects looking at signal evolution and speciation in birds. In general, our aim is to understand
the diversity of signals in nature, and to this end we are monitoring several populations of birds
that have diverged dramatically in plumage coloration, and, in some instances, song. Our goal is
to uncover the underlying factors that drive these changes and to understand how these
changes result in the formation of new species. For details visit Projects in the Uy Lab. Here is a
quick synopsis of the three field projects:

Bearded manakins: Manakins (Pipridae) are small (ca. 30 g), frugivorous birds found throughout
the Neotropics, and are known for their elaborate plumage and intense courtship displays. We
will be focusing on four closely related species/ subspecies of the bearded manakin (Manacus
manacus ssp.) that exhibit dramatic differences in male plumage color, traits used explicitly
during displays. In contrast, other traits, like beak size and wing length, show less variation
among species/subspecies. Sites we are monitoring are in Panama and Costa Rica. Some of the
specific sites we've sampled include: Gamboa and Bocas del Toro in Panama, La Selva
Biological Station and Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, and the Bilsa and Jatun Sacha
Reserves in Ecuador. Our field season runs from Feb to July, before the onset of the rainy
season. For more information, contact Adam Stein, the leader of this project.

Chestnut-bellied flycatchers: Island populations of the chestnut-bellied flycatchers (Monarcha
castaneiventris) of the Solomon Archipelago have diverged in plumage color, extent of sex
differences in color, and song structure. Populations range from conspicous and dichromatic to
inconspicous and monochromatic. This project typically runs from January through May, and
we sample several island chains throughout the Solomon Islands. For more information,
contact Al Uy.

For all three projects, field conditions are often rustic and so we expect assistants to love the
outdoors. Also, privacy may be minimal in the field, so we seek assistants who are courteous,
mature and considerate of others. Finally, (and most importantly) fieldwork is long and tedious,
often physically and mentally taxing. So we expect assistants to be patient, motivated and in
good physical shape. Some of the methods we will use in the field include: 1) extended
behavioral observations in blinds, 2) monitoring male behavior at courts with automatic video
cameras, 3) bird banding with mist nets, 4) song recording and playback experiments and 5)
measurement of the spectral properties of the lek habitat using a portable spectroradiometer.
Although having some field experience is an advantage, we are mostly looking for individuals
who are enthusiastic, mature and willing to work hard.

Assistants are expected to pay for their own travel to and from the host country. Once in the
country, we will meet you at the airport and provide meals and lodging at the field site. Sorry, we
do not provide a stipend or salary -- just a great learning experience!

Warnings: Hazards in the Field. -- Working in the Tropics presents us with numerous dangers
and inconveniences not regularly encountered in the U.S. and other more temperate regions. We
expect assistants to be able to tolerate these conditions and use common sense to stay safe.
Here's a not-so-complete list of what to expect in Latin America and the Pacific. More detailed
information can be found in Lonely Planet guides.

Venomous Snakes. -- We regularly encounter numerous species of highly venomous snakes,
including various vipers and coral snakes. Snakes typically stay away from humans; however,
since many are sit-and-wait predators, they often would opt to remain quiet and still when
approached. So the key is to be aware of your surroundings, watch the trail while hiking and
never put your hands in crevices or pick up snakes. This is mostly a concern in Latin America

Mosquitoes. -- Mosquitoes are very abundant at all the sites we monitor; however, malaria is not
present in our field sites in Latin America, but is present in the Solomon Islands. Using insect
repellant and long sleeve shirts often works. For the Solomons, we suggest Malaria drugs to
insure that you don't contract this disease.

Botflies. -- Botflies attach their eggs on mosquitoes. So, after a
carrier mosquito makes a feast of you, a botfly egg drops onto
your skin and hatches. The larva then burrows into your skin
through the mosquito bite. A few weeks later, you will see a tiny
larva living between your dermal and epidermal layer, its
spiracle (breathing hole) periodically sticking out of a circular
wound that never heals. They will develop in your skin for 2-3
months, and emerge as a jelly bean-sized larva ready to pupate
in the ground (see photo to the left). However, if you don't want
to be used as a 3-month host, they can be removed promptly
with vaseline and a pair of tweezers. As far as I know, there are
no known permanent effects with hosting this parasite. This is
only a concern for the Latin America project and not the
Solomons.

Ants. -- Ants comprise of a huge portion of the total biomass in the Neotropics; thus, you will
encounter huge nests wherever you turn. They are mostly benign, and are rather fun to observe
(especially the leaf-cutter ants). However, several species are aggressive and have rather painful
stings. The bullet ant is common in the habitat where leks are found, so we regularly encounter
nests. I have been bitten several times, and, as its name suggests, it hurts. Just as in snakes, to
avoid being bitten be aware of your surroundings and never stick your hands in dark places.
Again, this is mostly a concern for the Latin America project.

Microbes. -- Needless to say, the Tropics have an amazingly different microbial fauna than
temperate regions. Hence, microbes in food and in the air can present many dangers. Take
precautions when eating (e.g., do not eat raw, unwashed food or drink tap water) or whenever you
get a cut. Minor cuts often turn into bad infections if left unattended.

Traveling. -- The most important advice we can give is be aware. Like any big city, Panama City,
San Jose or Honiara, can be dangerous, especially to tourists. So be careful, watch your
possessions and do not get into situations that could compromise your safety (e.g., walking alone
in a shady part of town). The Lonely Planet guides offer some excellent tips, such as which
neighborhoods to avoid. But in general, the people of Latin America and the Solomon
Archipelago are extremely friendly and always willing to help.

Animals exhibit a diverse array of signals used for communication. Understanding the underlying
reasons why such traits are diverse remains a controversial issue in biology. My work aims to
understand the factors that shape signal diversity using live-bearing fish, Brachyrhaphis spp.
Brachyrhaphis are small, live-bearing fish found in freshwater streams of Central America.
Species of this genus have diverged in the color of their anal fins. My work aims to understand
the function of these traits, and to uncover the factors that have caused these differences among
closely-related species.

I am looking for undergraduate students to assist in this, and other related projects. My goal is to
involve students in all aspects of research (experimental design, data acquisition, data analysis,
writing), in the hopes that undergraduates will co-author publications. In addition, I expect
students to be involved in our weekly lab meetings, because exposure to these meetings is an
invaluable training tool. Students can work in our lab for research credits.

CURRENT STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE UY LAB

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE UY LAB FOR GRADUATE WORK?

There are currently four graduate students in the Uy lab (3 pursuing their PhD, and 1 pursuing
her M.S.). With a good-sized graduate lab group, I may take only one student in the Fall 2007
semester. I have several projects underway, which all deal with sexual selection, signal evolution
or speciation. For details, visit the Projects in the Uy lab link. Students have the option of joining
one of these long-term projects, or developing a completely independent research program. If
interested, contact Al Uy directly via e-mail (jauy@syr.edu). Please include a short letter of intent,
and your curriculum vitae outlining relevant research experiences.