This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences (CFDA 47.074) program grant of $502,593 awarded to the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University supports a research project on extra-pair reproduction in a house wren population. The project will collect genetic and behavioral data to investigate whether female house wrens choose to mate with neighboring males that can provide better genes for their offspring compared to their social mates. It will also examine how female and male wrens respond to songs with different attractiveness characteristics. In addition to the core research, the project will provide training and research experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, and engage high school students and the public in the scientific process. The goal is to improve understanding of the proximate and ultimate explanations for extra-pair reproduction in socially monogamous bird species, as well as enhance scientific literacy and diversity in STEM fields. The grant period runs from May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027.
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