Costs of variable incubation conditions in a passerine bird

The importance of parental investment during incubation has probably been underestimated by avian biologists until now. Little is still known about how the interplay between parents' incubation behaviour, clutch size and incubation conditions affect avian life history, both with regard to developing embryos/chicks and their parents. The current project is focusing on costs of variable incubation conditions to offspring and parents in birds. I study these variable conditions by experimentally altering clu tch sizes in tits (small passerines), and the field work is conducted in Loch Lomond NP, Scotland, UK. Building upon my previous research experience with field studies of birds and ecological hypothesis testing, the study adds new aspects to my researc h profile, e.g. with the incorporation of physiological and endochrinological studies for use in an ecological context. It will also incorporate the use of novel field instrumentation equipment developed at the host institution. The results from this pr oject are potentially useful in a range of biological diciplines including evolutionary biology, functional ecology, behaviour and physiology. Findings might also have implications for research in veterinary and animal welfare sciences. This proposal see ks TOPPCURIE funding for a 14 month postdoctoral Marie Curie EIF fellowship in animal ecology. Please note that originally the funding from the EC was given for 24 months. However, as I got a permanent position in Norway from January 2009 I have resigned my fellowship from 31 December 2008.