DOCSLIB.ORG

Through the Eyes of a Satin Bowerbird

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Through the Eyes of a Satin Bowerbird Through the eyes of a satin bowerbird: a bricolage metaphor as an organising principle for a self-reflective process to explore spirituality in home economics contexts Author Deagon, Jay Published 2015 Journal Title Victorian Journal of Home Economics Version Version of Record (VoR) Copyright Statement © 2015 Home Economics Victoria. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/157697 Link to published version https://www.homeeconomics.com.au/about-us/research Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Through the eyes of a satin bowerbird a bricolage metaphor as an organising principle for a self-reflective process Jay R. Deagon PhD Adjunct Research Fellow to explore spirituality in home Griffith Institute for Educational Research (GIER) economics contexts. This is a peer reviewed article Abstract It started with a poem Researchers often “act like” satin bowerbirds as they purposefully, selectively and instinctively select and display the “bluest of trophies” or “the best bits” of their Satin Bowerbird Blues research. The strategies conveyed in this paper were used as an observational technique to explore cross-cultural views and perceptions of spirituality within Ptilinorhynchus violaceus home economics contexts. This article articulates the methodological journey By Richard Foerster towards construction of a bricolage research metaphor: through the eyes of a satin bowerbird. The paper uses a narrative approach to communicate the researcher’s When whatever tripwire story of the development of an organising principle for a self-reflective process triggers his compulsion, to explain research decisions and actions within uncertain research environments. he constructs a U from twigs The satin bowerbird bricolage entailed a six-phase navigation method of engaging, selecting, focusing, refining, defining, and weaving theoretical and methodological and hoop-pine needles tapered concepts together with key insights of the research. The methodology explored foot-high at the tips in this paper offers a transparency technique for a critical self-reflection process like horns. To this courtyard exposes a researcher’s choices of theoretical and methodological lenses also of bliss he brings the bluest exposes the complexity of individualised researcher realities. trophies he can find to entice the demurely dull- Introduction green bowerhens This article articulates the As a methodological process, metaphor to his violaceous eyes – methodological journey which was is useful. Following Schmitt’s (2005) blues electric and ultra- undertaken in constructing a research ‘rules’ for the use of metaphor in marine: swap-shop gems, metaphor: through the eyes of a satin qualitative research, the satin bowerbird wrapper scraps and straws, bowerbird. The purpose of this paper metaphor operated within a broader a plastic bottlecap. His is craft is to share the journey of a home research strategy. As a caveat, if taken economics researcher navigating a too far, an analogy may expose illogical cerulean, lapis, indican complex, highly subjective and fluid or irrational arguments that may detract to swell a heart like a sapphire research environment. A recent project from the author’s intentions (Thouless, star till he bursts into a fluff-’n- that examined cross-cultural views 1961). The satin bowerbird metaphor ruffle jig with a navy clothespeg, and perceptions of spirituality within a was not used to justify researcher perhaps, in his bill. home economics paradigm required reasoning or results; rather, it was an Whether an audience will come the researcher to examine deeply organising principle for a self-reflective and stay, enthralled, he breaks – her own subjective perceptions. The process to explain research decisions guttural, glissando – into pure way that the researcher perceived the and actions. To illuminate the metaphor, cyanic song. subjective topic of spirituality required this article uses a narrative approach a non-traditional approach to research to communicate the research story and Figure 1: Satin Bowerbird Blues a Poem practices. In order to study spirituality a colour version of this paper would be by Richard Foerster (2005) as a research topic, the location of beneficial for the reader. a diverse and socially responsive In the spirit of bricolage, which will theoretical and methodological be explained later in this article, and framework within which to operate was in order to give the reader a poetic required. introduction to my work, I present this poem (Figure 1) entitled Satin Bowerbird Victorian Journal of Home Economics Volume 54 Number 1 2015 Page 7 Figure 2: Male satin bowerbird (ptilinorhynchus violaceus) decorating his bower with the bluest of trophies. Photograph by Tim Lanman retrieved on 10 May 2012 via National Geographic website Germany at http://ngm.nationalgeographic Blues by Richard Foerster (2005), used bowerbird (Ptilinorhynchus violaceus) that makes for successful breeding – it with permission. (Figure 2) is unique for two reasons: is the preparation of the bower that 1) it weaves, paints and decorates a makes the difference for nesting The genesis of the Satin Bowerbird bower to entice a mate; and 2) uses success. Bricolage (hereafter referred to as SBB) decorations of a specific colour blue. stemmed from a casual conversation With my fascination deepening, I wrote For interest’s sake, if blue ornaments with my partner. Reflecting on my to the author of the poem (Figure 1) are not available, yellow or white previous research experiences, to find out about his experience with objects are sometimes collected. Some I recognised that I was ‘acting’ like a the satin bowerbird. Richard Foerster other bowerbird species collect shells, male satin bowerbird. I had anecdotal explained: flowers, feathers, fungi to adorn the evidence of other researchers ‘feeling’ bower. Male bowerbirds often ‘steal’ I wrote “Satin Bowerbird Blues” in the same way about their work: a from other males’ bowers to improve January 2001 during my residency at compulsion to select and present their own bower decorations. The Varuna, the novelist Eleanor Dark’s only ‘the best bits’ of literature and female bowerbird will then assess house in Katoomba that is now a writers’ research. On rainforest walks near my the ‘honesty’ of the male bowerbird colony. Over the course of my weeks home in South-East Queensland, I have by investigating the bower for colour, there, I got to watch the bowerbird in had personal encounters with satin arrangement, quality and quantity of his efforts to construct a bower. Alas, bowerbirds, their bowers and their the ornaments that adorn the bower. he repeatedly failed since more mature collections of bright blue ornaments, It is believed that parasites in the eyes males kept raiding his trophies. Still, the which left me with enduring feelings of the male satin bowerbird affect the urge to construct and dance and sing of awe and wonder. My inquisitiveness selection of the bluest of ornaments for never deserted him. There’s a life-lesson obliged me to search academic the arrangement in his bower (Keagy et there. (I’m curious to know, however, literature to learn more about the satin al., 2009). In this way, by the selection what these birds did before the advent bowerbird. and arrangement of these ‘bluest of of human detritus.) (personal email I discovered that the bowerbird is trophies’, a female bowerbird can communication, Foerster, 2013) thought to be one of the most intelligent identify how healthy the male bird is Indeed it is a curious question – what birds in the avian world due to its and therefore determine his “honesty” did satin bowerbirds do before cognitive ability to use tools to build as a suitable mating partner. Although humans invented blue clothes pegs? elaborate structures called bowers it is only the male bowerbird that Regardless, it was the instinctive habits (Keagy, Savard, & Borgia, 2009). Avian creates the bower, for the purpose of and persistence of this much watched researchers use the term ‘avenue’ to the analogy developed in this paper, adolescent satin bowerbird that gave describe the purpose of a bower. The gender is multidirectional and no bias is my research its unique perspective. bower is not a nest; rather, it is an intended. For the bowerbirds, the bower invitation to nest. The male satin is not the final nesting place (or home) Page 8 Victorian Journal of Home Economics Volume 54 Number 1 2015 A methodological metaphor: through the eyes of a satin bowerbird As the research progressed, I began to Some see research as a step-by-step 2005; O’Halloran, 2008). I used see points of connection between the process that starts with a research creative devices to allow for fluidity satin bowerbird’s behaviours and my question and ends with a technically of thought and development of a research behaviours. I now develop the formatted report which logically and twisting and turning research story methodological metaphor: through the objectively arrives at a definitive answer (Creswell, 2005). By creative, I mean eyes of the satin bowerbird by “speaking to that specific research question the use of devices such as poems, to” Figure 3. It will be explained that (Creswell, 2005). My research did not metaphors, analogies, photographs, this methodological metaphor required follow such a simple linear process. The annotated drawings, models and a complex set of considerations. The doctoral thesis was structured using graphs to highlight and explain complex suite of photographs in Figure 3 is a traditional signposts for identifying concepts. There were three reasons pictorial representation of the way I quality research (introduction, for this style of presentation. First, the visualised a narrowing of my research literature review, theoretical study was internet-based; as a site focus. I will explain each of these framework, methodology, data and of data collection, the internet is a photographs and corresponding analysis, discussion, and conclusion); highly visual space (Silverman, 2010).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat
    Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Dedicated bird enthusiasts have kindly contributed to this sequence of 106 bird species spotted in the habitat over the last few years Kookaburra Red-browed Finch Black-faced Cuckoo- shrike Magpie-lark Tawny Frogmouth Noisy Miner Spotted Dove [1] Crested Pigeon Australian Raven Olive-backed Oriole Whistling Kite Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Noisy Friarbird Galah Long-billed Corella Eastern Rosella Yellow-tailed black Rainbow Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Cockatoo Tawny Frogmouth c Noeline Karlson [1] ( ) Common Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Variegated Fairy- Yellow Faced Superb Fairy-wren White Cheeked Scarlet Honeyeater Blue-faced Honeyeater wren Honeyeater Honeyeater White-throated Brown Gerygone Brown Thornbill Yellow Thornbill Eastern Yellow Robin Silvereye Gerygone White-browed Eastern Spinebill [2] Spotted Pardalote Grey Fantail Little Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Scrubwren Willie Wagtail Eastern Whipbird Welcome Swallow Leaden Flycatcher Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler Eastern Spinebill c Noeline Karlson [2] ( ) Common Sea and shore birds Silver Gull White-necked Heron Little Black Australian White Ibis Masked Lapwing Crested Tern Cormorant Little Pied Cormorant White-bellied Sea-Eagle [3] Pelican White-faced Heron Uncommon Sea and shore birds Caspian Tern Pied Cormorant White-necked Heron Great Egret Little Egret Great Cormorant Striated Heron Intermediate Egret [3] White-bellied Sea-Eagle (c) Noeline Karlson Uncommon Birds in Tilligerry Habitat Grey Goshawk Australian Hobby
    [Show full text]
  • Male Intelligence Influences Male Mating Success in the Satin
    Male intelligence influences male mating success in the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) Jason Keagy1, Jean-François Savard2, and Gerald Borgia1,2 1Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Program 2Biology Department University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 Introduction: Results: The relationship between intelligence and Red Coverage Experiment: Red on average sexual selection has not been directly was covered significantly more than blue (t=- examined, although several studies have 2.37, P=0.047), and green was intermediate examined the relationship between sexual in coverage. Tiles in the positions close to selection and brain size1,2,3. Male satin the bower (for example red and blue in bowerbirds, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Figure 1) were covered very little regardless have complex sexual displays that involve of color. For males with red in one of these building a stick bower on the ground, positions, red coverage did not predict decorating the bower with colored objects4, mating success. However, for those males and courting females at the bower with a with the red tile in the outer position, male complex dance during which they mimic mating success was predicted by red 5 2 other species of birds and vary in their Figure 1. Layout of experiment. Dotted line segments are coverage (R =0.65, P=0.005; Figure 4). 20 cm long. ability to react to female signals of Barrier Experiment: 6 discomfort . Males destroy their rivals’ The amount of time it took for males to 7 bowers and steal decorations from them . remove the clear barrier significantly Males do not mature until seven years of predicted their mating success (R2=0.29, age, and as juveniles they learn and P=0.005; Figure 5).
    [Show full text]
  • Male Courtship Vocalizations As Cues for Mate Choice in the Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus Violaceus)
    MALE COURTSHIP VOCALIZATIONS AS CUES FOR MATE CHOICE IN THE SATIN BOWERBIRD (PTILONORHYNCHUS VIOLACEUS) CHRISTOPHER A. LOFFREDO AND GERALD BORGIA Departmentof Zoology,University of Maryland,College Park, Maryland 20742 USA AI3STRACT.--MaleSatin Bowerbirds(Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) court femalesat specialized structurescalled bowers. Courtship includes a complexpattern of vocalizationsin which a broad-band,mechanical-sounding song is followed by interspecificmimicry. We studiedthe effect of male courtshipdisplays on male mating successin Satin Bowerbirds.Data from 2 yearsof field researchshowed low between-maledifferences in mechanicalcomponents of courtshipsong and high variability betweenmales in mimeticsinging. Older malessang longer and higher-qualitybouts of mimicry than did youngermales. In one year, courtship song featureswere correlatedwith male mating success.The resultssuggest that female SatinBowerbirds use male courtship vocalizations in their mate-choicedecisions. We discuss hypothesesabout assessment of male age and dominancefrom courtshipvocalizations and suggestthat thesesongs have evolvedas a result of selectionfor male displaycharacteristics that provide femaleswith information about the relative quality of prospectivemates. Re- ceived27 June1985, accepted20 September1985. MALESatin Bowerbirds(Ptilonorhynchus vio- ingnessto copulateor by flying away. Given laceus)build specializedstructures called bow- the complexity of male display and the atten- ers that are used as sites for courting females tion femalespay to displayingmales,
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Australia: October-November 2016
    Tropical Birding Trip Report Eastern Australia: October-November 2016 A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour EASTERN AUSTRALIA: From Top to Bottom 23rd October – 11th November 2016 The bird of the trip, the very impressive POWERFUL OWL Tour Leader: Laurie Ross All photos in this report were taken by Laurie Ross/Tropical Birding. 1 www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] Page Tropical Birding Trip Report Eastern Australia: October-November 2016 INTRODUCTION The Eastern Australia Set Departure Tour introduces a huge amount of new birds and families to the majority of the group. We started the tour in Cairns in Far North Queensland, where we found ourselves surrounded by multiple habitats from the tidal mudflats of the Cairns Esplanade, the Great Barrier Reef and its sandy cays, lush lowland and highland rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands, and we even made it to the edge of the Outback near Mount Carbine; the next leg of the tour took us south to Southeast Queensland where we spent time in temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests within Lamington National Park. The third, and my favorite leg, of the tour took us down to New South Wales, where we birded a huge variety of new habitats from coastal heathland to rocky shorelines and temperate rainforests in Royal National Park, to the mallee and brigalow of Inland New South Wales. The fourth and final leg of the tour saw us on the beautiful island state of Tasmania, where we found all 13 “Tassie” endemics. We had a huge list of highlights, from finding a roosting Lesser Sooty Owl in Malanda; to finding two roosting Powerful Owls near Brisbane; to having an Albert’s Lyrebird walk out in front of us at O Reilly’s; to seeing the rare and endangered Regent Honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley, and finding the endangered Swift Parrot on Bruny Island, in Tasmania.
    [Show full text]
  • An Inverse Relationship Between Decoration and Food Colour Preferences in Satin Bowerbirds Does Not Support the Sensory Drive Hypothesis
    ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, 2006, 72, 1125e1133 doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.03.015 An inverse relationship between decoration and food colour preferences in satin bowerbirds does not support the sensory drive hypothesis GERALD BORGIA*† & JASON KEAGY† *Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park yDepartment of Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Program, University of Maryland, College Park (Received 20 September 2005; initial acceptance 25 October 2005; final acceptance 30 March 2006; published online 26 September 2006; MS. number: A10246) Male bowerbirds collect and decorate their bowers with coloured objects that influence female choice. A recent version of the sensory drive hypothesis claims that female food colour preferences have driven the evolution of female preferences for the colour of male display traits. This hypothesis predicts a positive correlation between male display and food colour preferences. A positive correlation between food and decoration preferences could also arise because of sensory biases built into bowerbirds or the environment. Here we test hypotheses that (1) male and female satin bowerbirds show well-defined food colour prefer- ences, (2) these preferences correlate with independently assessed preferences for bower decorations, and, in a cross-species comparison, (3) food items were used as the first bower decorations. We found that male and female satin bowerbirds, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, preferentially use long wavelength and were colours as food items. Male decoration preferences were biased towards colours of short wavelength and were negatively correlated with food colour preferences. Our reconstruction of ancestral character states is most consistent with the hypothesis that the original bower decorations were inedible objects and were thus unlikely to have been dual-use traits that also functioned as food items.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Colorful Display
    COMMENTARY doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00051.x EVOLUTION OF COLORFUL DISPLAY Gerald Borgia,1 Brian Coyle, and P. B. Zwiers Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4415 1E-mail: [email protected] Received February 27, 2006 Accepted November 27, 2006 How the displays of bowerbirds have evolved has attracted widespread interest. Endler et al. (2005) analyzed color use in display in a subset of bowerbird species and generalized their results to all bowerbirds. Here we discuss problems with their analysis that calls into question their conclusions. For example, they state that bowerbirds do not use decorations that match their background, but this is not supported by their results. They reconstruct historical patterns of sexual dimorphism in plumage display using questionable methodology. The high lability of these display traits makes these reconstructions unreliable and, using accepted methods and acknowledging the lability problem, we were unable to support their conclusions. Their claim that plumage differences between sympatric species are due to character displacement is not supported by the available data. Their focus is on visual contrast as the cause for display color and we offer additional hypotheses that may contribute to explaining color use. We support studies of spectral analysis of display traits but urge greater care in using this information to reach conclusions about how colorful displays have evolved. KEY WORDS: Character displacement, character-state reconstruction, mate recognition, rapid evolution, sexual selection. Bowerbirds are widely known for their multifaceted sexual dis- logeny suggest the following sequence of events: (1) increase of plays including a bower, bower decorations, and dancing and vo- contrast under sexual selection; (2) onset of increased predation cal elements.
    [Show full text]
  • The State of Australia's Birds 2003
    T HE S TATE OF A USTRALIA’ S B IRDS 2003 Wedge-tailed Eagle. Photo by www.birdphotos.com.au JOIN TODAY! CONSERVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE By joining Birds Australia, you help Dedicated to the study, conservation and enjoyment of native birds Australia’s wild birds and their and their habitats habitats. Whether you participate Since 1901 Birds Australia (Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union) has in the activities and research or worked for the conservation of Australasia’s birds and their habitats, principally through just enjoy Australia’s leading bird scientific research. An independent, not-for- magazine Wingspan, your profit organisation, Birds Australia relies on the financial support of companies, trusts and subscription is hard at work, foundations, and private individuals. The organisation inspires the involvement of safeguarding our beautiful birds. thousands of volunteers in its conservation projects and through their generosity and commitment undertakes nationwide and Title First Name localised monitoring of bird populations. Surname 415 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria 3123 Address Tel: (03) 9882 2622; Fax: (03) 9882 2677; Postcode Email: [email protected] Phone (AH) (BH) Web site: www.birdsaustralia.com.au Email Funding for this report was generously provided by the Vera Moore Foundation Please accept my enclosed cheque for $68 $50 (concession) and the Australian Government’s $108 (family*) or $87 (family concession) payable to Department of Environment and Heritage (formerly Environment Australia). ‘Birds Australia’ or debit my Bankcard Visa Mastercard Vera Moore Foundation Expiry Date / Signature by Penny Olsen, Date / / SCIA.1 Michael Weston, Post to: Birds Australia, 415 Riversdale Rd, Hawthorn East, Vic.
    [Show full text]
  • Age-Related Effects of Testosterone, Plumage, and Experience on Aggression and Social Dominance in Juvenile Male Satin Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus Violaceus)
    The Auk 109(3):422-434, 1992 AGE-RELATED EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE, PLUMAGE, AND EXPERIENCE ON AGGRESSION AND SOCIAL DOMINANCE IN JUVENILE MALE SATIN BOWERBIRDS (PTILONORHYNCHUS VIOLACEUS) KEN COLLIS AND GERALD BORGIA Departmentof Zoology,University of Maryland,College Park, Maryland 20742, USA ASSTRACT.--Weinvestigated the relationshipbetween age and dominancein the Satin Bowerbird(Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) to understandwhy youngmales delay maturation. Tes- tosteroneimplants were used to experimentallyadvance the expression of adultcharacteristics in juvenile-plumagedmales. Testosterone implants increased both aggression and dominance amongjuvenile-plumaged males. In theyear following implantation, treated males molted intofull adultplumage and maintained their dominance over controls at feedingsites even thoughtheir implants were probably empty. Despite the changesin circulatingandrogens, aggression,and plumagebrought on by the testosteronetreatment of juvenile-plumaged males,age-related differences remained in aggressionand socialdominance between the treatedand untreatedbirds. These age effects are consistentwith the hypothesisthat male experiencein maleaggressive encounters plays an important role in determiningdominance relationshipsand, ultimately, affects the developmentof maleadult-plumaged characters. Received12 September1990, accepted 13 January1992. THEEVOLUTION of exaggeratedmale display still in juvenile plumage(Marshall 1954),they traitscommon in manypolygynous species has do not acquirea full-adult blue plumageuntil attracted
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Bower Complexity and Cerebellum Size in Bowerbirds
    Original Paper Brain Behav Evol 2005;66:62–72 Received: September 1, 2004 Returned for revision: September 21, 2004 DOI: 10.1159/000085048 Accepted after revision: January 3, 2005 Published online: April 25, 2005 Evolution of Bower Complexity and Cerebellum Size in Bowerbirds a–c d b Lainy B. Day David A. Westcott Deborah H. Olster a b Departments of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Psychology, University of California, c Santa Barbara, Calif. , USA; Department of Zoology and Tropical Ecology, School of Tropical Biology, d James Cook University, Townsville , CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and Rainforest CRC, Atherton , Australia Key Words Introduction Birds Bowerbirds Cerebellum Hippocampus Sexual selection Males of the bowerbird family (Ptilonorhynchidae), except three monogamous species, build elaborate dis- play sites (bowers) used to entice females to mate [Mar- Abstract shall, 1954; Kusmierski et al., 1997]. Bower design ap- To entice females to mate, male bowerbirds build elabo- pears to have been sexually selected through female choice rate displays (bowers). Among species, bowers range in as females of several species are known to select mates complexity from simple arenas decorated with leaves to based at least partially on the quality of the bower or the complex twig or grass structures decorated with myriad number of particular items used to decorate the bower colored objects. To investigate the neural underpinnings [Borgia and Mueller, 1992; Madden, 2003a]. Each species of bower building, we examined the contribution of vari- of bowerbird has a particular bower style and preference ation in volume estimates of whole brain (WB), telen- for decorations of certain types or colors [Marshall, 1954; cephalon minus hippocampus (TH), hippocampus (Hp) Madden, 2003b].
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the Sustainability of Native Fauna in NSW State of the Catchments 2010
    State of the catchments 2010 Native fauna Technical report series Monitoring, evaluation and reporting program Assessing the sustainability of native fauna in NSW State of the catchments 2010 Paul Mahon Scott King Clare O’Brien Candida Barclay Philip Gleeson Allen McIlwee Sandra Penman Martin Schulz Office of Environment and Heritage Monitoring, evaluation and reporting program Technical report series Native vegetation Native fauna Threatened species Invasive species Riverine ecosystems Groundwater Marine waters Wetlands Estuaries and coastal lakes Soil condition Land management within capability Economic sustainability and social well-being Capacity to manage natural resources © 2011 State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage The State of NSW and Office of Environment and Heritage are pleased to allow this material to be reproduced in whole or in part for educational and non-commercial use, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are acknowledged. Specific permission is required for the reproduction of photographs. The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has compiled this technical report in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any particular purpose. OEH shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation taking action or not on the basis of this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice when applying the information to
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 49 January 2011 Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
    Feed back The ASAB education newsletter Feedback ISSN 2042-5724 Issue 49 January 2011 In this issue Dear Colleague 1 Note from the Editor ell, here it is – my final editorial piece for Feedback. The last 2 Forthcoming Events 16 years, and one term, have been immensely enjoyable and rewarding as the ASAB Education Officer and I hope my succes- 3 News and Acknowledgements W sor, Charlotte Evans, enjoys her time in post. When I was compiling the 4 Cartoon – Judy Evans & Why not join ASAB? first newsletter in December 1994, Feedback was a rather modest publica- 5 Animal cameo: southern red wood ant – Dr tion, being just 10 sides of A4 and a monochrome production. Over the Tim Batchelor years the newsletter has grown considerably and we benefited initially by 7 Animal cameo: Roman snail – Sarah having contributions from exceptionally distinguished researchers, includ- Spooner ing John Krebs, Richard Dawkins and Patrick Bateson, writing about how 8 Animal cameo: chaffinch – Nadia Pieretti they got started in animal behaviour. These articles established Feedback as a newsletter of value to teachers. Over the years I have tried to provide 10 Animal cameo: Bloxworth snout – Peter our customary fare of exercises, cameos, news items, articles by a variety of Costen and Dr Michael Dockery contributors, including pupils and students. I hope these termly newsletters 12 ASAB and the ethical treatment of animals have been useful to classroom practitioners. I am personally very grateful in research and teaching – Dr Kate to those kind souls who have sent e-mails to me thanking the ASAB Educa- Buchanan tion Committee for the newsletters and the resources we have produced 14 New resource for AS/A2/Higher and and I`m sure there will other first class resources produced in the coming Advanced Higher – `Investigations into the years.
    [Show full text]
  • Shannon Carson Bentz Directed By
    ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: ALLOMETRIC COMPARISON OF BRAIN STRUCTURE VOLUMES IN THREE SPECIES OF BOWERBIRD: SATIN BOWERBIRDS (PTILONORHYNCHUS VIOLACEUS), SPOTTED BOWERBIRDS (CHLAMYDERA MACULATA), AND GREEN CATBIRDS (AILUROEDUS CRASSIROSTRIS). Shannon Carson Bentz Directed By: Professor Steven Brauth, Department of Psychology In three species of Australian bowerbirds the volumes of several brain structures were determined based on areal measurements of fixed tissue. Allometric comparisons, i.e., those that take into account the gross interspecies and intersexual differences in body mass and overall size, were made among these three species. Sexual dimorphisms were detected in the vocal control nuclei of each species. Most intriguingly, a putatively novel nucleus in the dorsal hyperstriatum of all three species has been identified. These findings are discussed in a functional context, in which the bower-building habits of these three species of bowerbird are considered. ALLOMETRIC COMPARISON OF BRAIN STRUCTURE VOLUMES IN THREE SPECIES OF BOWERBIRD: SATIN BOWERBIRDS (PTILONORHYNCHUS VIOLACEUS), SPOTTED BOWERBIRDS (CHLAMYDERA MACULATA), AND GREEN CATBIRDS (AILUROEDUS CRASSIROSTRIS). By Shannon Carson Bentz Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science 2005 Advisory Committee: Professor Steven Brauth, Chair Professor Gerald Borgia Assistant Professor Todd Troyer © Copyright by Shannon Carson Bentz 2005 Dedication To Saskia. ii Acknowledgements This work was supported in part by training grant DC- 00046 from the National Institute of Deafness and Communicative Disorders of the National Institutes of Health and by a grant from the University of Maryland Center for Neuroscience. iii Table of Contents Dedication............................................
    [Show full text]