Hummingbird Happenings: Seasonality of Behavioral and Physiological Energy Balance Strategies in Calypte anna
Authors: Chelsea Johnson, Sam Sandoval
Faculty Supervisor: Derrick Groom
Department: Biology
In addition to seasonal changes in climate and resources, animals must also account for the different energetic requirements of key annual life history events, such as molt and migration. Behavioral and physiological strategies may include increasing energy intake or decreasing energy expenditure, for example. However, our knowledge of energy balance across the annual cycle is poor. The objective of this project is to characterize patterns in the behavior and physiology of captive Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) as cued by photoperiodic changes, including activity, feeding, body mass, and metabolism. We hypothesize that hummingbirds modify their energy balance strategies based on season and life history events. Hummingbirds have among the highest metabolic rates of any animal, making them an ideal model for understanding energy balance across seasons. Studying these patterns can help shed light on the behavioral and physiological strategies that hummingbirds employ seasonally for survival and can help predict how animals will respond to climate change.