BaBEL @ FAU
The Anderson Lab (BaBEL) studies behavioral ecology, early life stress & personality, communication and bioacoustics.
Early-Life Behaviors and Incubation
Our lab is investigating how early developmental conditions shape behavioral traits later both in early life and in life. One project explores how suboptimal incubation conditions—such as heat stress—affect begging behavior in zebra finches and whether these early experiences influence personality development. Begging is a critical behavior for survival in nestlings, but it can also come with trade-offs, such as attracting predators or depleting energy reserves. By studying how incubation temperature impacts this behavior, we aim to understand whether developmental stressors have lasting consequences on an individual’s personality and behavior.
​
Additionally, this research has important conservation implications, as climate change is altering incubation environments for many bird species. Understanding how birds compensate for early-life stressors could help inform strategies to mitigate these effects in wild populations.
Cognition
Our lab has studied behavior and cognition, which is the ways in which animals perceive and interact with their environment. An animal's behavior and cognition is very important for survival because it affects mate choice, foraging selection, and other survival decisions. Much of the research on cognition and behavior in songbirds has been through their unifying trait: song. However, research has also been published on their innovation, problem solving performance, and vocal learning.
In past research projects, we aimed to see if urban noise affects the cognition of birds. Does urban noise affect their cognitive performance? Does it affect their development? There is little research in this area, however is valuable information for conservation purposes as songbirds have been in drastic decline.
​