Research

My research centers on the ecology and evolution of communication in songbirds, and on social behaviour such as mate choice.  My students and I are interested in such questions as honest signalling of mate quality and the causes and consequences of mixed mating strategies in socially monogamous species.  Recent studies have examined the structure and function of song repertoires in black-capped chickadees and cerulean warblers, environmental influences on song transmission in wood warblers, and age-related vocal and visual signalling in lazuli buntings.  Current projects include investigating how social and competitive ability influence mating options of male and female chickadees, and testing the 'hidden lek' hypothesis in least flycatchers. In 2001 a new project will be using stable isotope analyses to study migration behaviour in redstarts

Students are encouraged to combine field and lab approaches in their work.  Excellent facilities are provided for field work (Queen's Biology Station), for molecular ecology analyses (Queen's Molecular Ecology Lab, directed by Dr. Peter Boag), and captive studies (aviaries, Biosciences Complex).

Details of these and related projects are available on request.

Publications

Otter, K. and L. Ratcliffe. 1994. Changes in singing behavior of male black-capped chickadees (Parus atricapillus) following mate removal. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 33: 409-414.

Zanette, L. and L.M. Ratcliffe. 1994. Social rank influences conspicuous behaviour of black-capped chickadees (Parus atricapillus). ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 48: 119-127.

Naugler, C.T. and L. Ratcliffe. 1994. Character release in bird song: a test of the acoustic competition hypothesis using American Tree Sparrows (Spizella arborea). J. AVIAN BIOL. 25: 142-148.

Otter, K.A., M. Njegovan, C.T. Naugler, J. Fotheringham and L. Ratcliffe. 1994. A simple technique for interactive playback experiments using a Macintosh Powerbook computer. BIOACOUSTICS. 5(4): 303-310.

Shackleton, S.A. and L. Ratcliffe. 1994. Matched counter-singing signals escalation of aggression in black-capped chickadees. ETHOLOGY: 97: 310-316.

Weisman, R., S. Shackleton, L. Ratcliffe, D. Weary and P.T. Boag. 1994. Sexual preferences of female Zebra Finches: imprinting on beak colour. BEHAVIOUR 128: 15-24.

Fotheringham, J.R. and L. Ratcliffe. 1995. Song degradation and estimation of acoustic distance in Black-capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus). CAN. J. ZOOL. 73: 858-868.

Ratcliffe, L. and K. Otter. 1996. Sex differences in song recognition. In Kroodsma, D.E. & Miller (eds). Ecology and Evolution of Acoustic Communication in Birds. Cornell University Press.

Otter, K. and L. Ratcliffe. 1996. Female-initiated divorce in a monogamous songbird: abandoning mates for males of higher quality. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY LONDON (B) 263: 351-354.

Martin, P.R., J. R. Fotheringham, L. Ratcliffe and R.J. Robertson. 1996. Response of American redstarts and least flycatchers to interspecific playback; the role of song in aggressive interactions and interference competition. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY: 39: 227-235.

Otter, K., B. Chruszcz, and L. Ratcliffe. 1997. Honest advertisement and song output during the dawn chorus of black-capped chickadees. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY: 8: 167-173.

Whittingham, L.A., Kirkconnell, A. and L.M. Ratcliffe. 1997. The context and function of duet and solo songs in the Red-shouldered Blackbird. WILSON BULLETIN 109: 279-289.

Fotheringham, J.R., Martin, P.R. and L. Ratcliffe. 1997. Song transmission and auditory perception of distance in wood warblers (Parulinae). ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 53: 1271-1285.

Muehter, V.R., Greene, E. and L. Ratcliffe. 1997. Delayed plumage maturation in lazuli buntings: tests of the female mimicry and status signalling hypotheses. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY: 41: 281-290.

Otter, K., Ratcliffe, L., Michaud, D. and P.T. Boag. 1998. Do female black-capped chickadees prefer high-ranking males as extra-pair partners? BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY 43: 25-36.

Otter, K., Ramsay, S. M. and L. Ratcliffe. 1999. Enhanced reproductive success of female black-capped chickadees mated to high-ranking males. THE AUK 116: 346-354.

Ramsay, S.M., Otter, K. and L. M. Ratcliffe. 1999. Nest-site selection by female black-capped chickadees: settlement based on conspecific attraction? THE AUK 116: 604-617.

Tarof, S.A. and L. Ratcliffe. 2000. Pair formation and copulation behaviour in Least flycatchers. THE CONDOR: in press.

Mennill, D.J. and L. Ratcliffe. 2000. A field test of Syrinx sound analysis software in interactive playback. BIOACOUSTICS II (1): in press.

Department of Biology, Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6 - Telephone: (613) 533-6160, Fax: (613) 533-6617