Sharon Gill

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Princeton University

Research Interests: To date, my research has focused on the behavioural ecology and life histories of temperate and tropical birds. For my doctoral research, I studied neotropical buff-breasted wrens Thryothorus leucotis, a species in which individuals are paired and territorial year-round. Unlike most temperate species in which female sing irregularly, female buff-breasted wrens sing throughout the year by participating in antiphonal duets with their mates, as well as by producing sex-specific solo songs. In addition to these previously established observations, I made several new and unexpected findings: lone, non-territorial females established new territories and attracted males using song, and females whose partners were experimentally removed defended their territories when alone, and they significantly increased the rate of solo singing. These findings suggest that unpaired female buff-breasted wrens advertise for replacement mates by singing. Similar singing patterns have been described in males of temperate species, and the hormonal basis of such patterns is well established: increased singing rates are associated with seasonal increases in testosterone levels. The hormonal bases of female song, and particularly peaks in singing associated with mate loss, are not well understood, particularly in species in which female song occurs regularly. My post-doctoral research will build upon my behavioural observations and examine the hormonal bases of female song, aggression, and territoriality in buff-breasted wrens.

E-mail: sagill@princeton.edu
Phone: 609-258-1935 / Fax: 609-258-7892

Education:
M.Sc. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada (Zoology) “Information transfer, function, and evolution of yellow warbler alarm calls” Advisor: Dr. Spencer G. Sealy

Ph.D., York University, Toronto, Canada (Biology). “Territory acquisition, divorce, pair formation, and parental care in a neotropical wren, Thryothorus leucotis” Advisor: Dr. Bridget J.M. Stutchbury

Recent Publications:

Gill, S.A. & B.J.M. Stutchbury. 2005. Nest building is an indicator of parental quality in a monogamous, tropical wren Thryothorus leucotis. The Auk, in press.

Gill, S.A., M.J. Vonhof, B.J.M. Stutchbury, E.S. Morton & J.S. Quinn. 2005. No evidence for acoustic mate guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, in press.

Gill, S.A. 2004. First record of cooperative breeding in a Thryothorus wren. The Wilson Bulletin 116, in press.

Gill, S.A. & S.G. Sealy. 2004. Functional reference in an alarm signal given during nest deference: seet calls of yellow warblers denote brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbirds. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 56: 71-80.

Gill, S.A. & S.G. Sealy. 2003. Tests of two functions of alarm calls given by yellow warblers during nest defence. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 81:1685-1690.

Gill, S.A. 2003. Timing and duration of egg laying in duetting buff-breasted wrens. Journal of Field Ornithology 74:31-36.

Fenton, M.B., M.J. Vonhof, S. Bouchard, S.A. Gill, D. Johnston, F.A. Reid, D. Riskin, L.K. Standing, J. Taylor, & R. Wagner. 2000. Roosts used by Sturnia lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Biotropica. 32:729-733.

Sealy, S.G., D.G. McMaster, S.A. Gill & D.L. Neudorf. 2000. Yellow warbler nest attentiveness before sunrise: Anti-parasite strategy or onset of incubation? In The Ecology and Management of Cowbirds (J.N.M. Smith, T.L. Cook, S.I. Rothstein, S.R. Robinson, & S.G. Sealy, eds.). University of Texas Press, Austin. Pp. 169-177.

McMaster, D.G., S.G. Sealy, S.A. Gill & D.L. Neudorf. 1999. Yellow warbler egg laying times and intervals between eggs. The Auk 116:236-240.

Sealy, S.G., D.L. Neudorf, K.A. Hobson & S.A. Gill. 1998. Nest defense by potential hosts of the brown-headed cowbird: An effective coevolved adaptation? In Parasitic Birds and their Hosts. (S. I. Rothstein & S. R. Robinson, eds.). Oxford University Press, New York. Pp. 194-211.

Gill, S.A., P.M. Grieef, L.M. Staib & S.G. Sealy. 1997. Does nest defence deter or facilitate cowbird parasitism? A test of the nesting-cue hypothesis. Ethology 103:56-71.

Gill, S.A., D.L. Neudorf & S.G. Sealy. 1997. Host responses to cowbirds near the nest: Cues for recognition. Animal Behaviour 53:1287-1293.

Gill, S.A. & S.G. Sealy. 1996. Nest defence by yellow warblers: Recognition of predator and brood parasite. Behaviour 133:263-282.