Phillips sensory ecology lab
The Phillips Lab builds on previous research to expand from behavioral responses to anthropogenic development and aims to deeper understand trends in populations and communities, using model systems in California, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as large community driven data to understand patterns of global change. Broadly, we examine the fitness consequences of sensory pollution and aim to test hypothesized direct and indirect consequences of exposure. Parsing out the consequences of sensory pollution caused by anthropogenic activities lays the groundwork for conserving wild places, species, and reconciling spaces where nature and mankind interact.
Phenotypes of the Anthropocene: integrating the consequences of sensory stressors across biological scales
Organismal responses to environmental stressors ultimately influence fitness, but how does individual variation in physiology and behavior scale to population vulnerability? Sensory pollutants that alter perception, such as artificial light at night and anthropogenic noise, have the potential for cross-generational effects, but the proximate mechanisms are rarely integrated with ultimate consequences. Here, we focus on six songbirds that vary in life history traits and anthropogenic tolerance, increasing generalizability beyond single-species approaches. We address three integrative questions that require expertise from different sub-disciplines to answer: 1) Do sensory stressors shape a generalizable phenotype? 2) Do proximate phenotypes of behavior and physiology affect ultimate outcomes of fitness? and 3) How do combined multi-sensory stressors affect organisms across biological scales? Across gradients and combinations of light and noise, at the proximate level we measure (a) physiology (e.g., glucocorticoids, testosterone, hormone receptors, clock genes), and (b) behaviors of nesting birds (e.g., aggression, boldness, song structure, settlement, movement). At the ultimate level, we will monitor (c) fitness outcomes via offspring success (e.g., clutch size, clutch date, fledgling survival) to measure singular and combined consequences of light and noise pollution. Importantly, the direct and indirect links among responses will be analyzed using structural equation models, facilitating in silico integration to reveal whether proximate and ultimate relationships are generalizable across species.
Black-capped Vireos at Government canyon State natural Area
Black-capped vireos (Vireo atricapilla) are a threatened but recently delisted songbird that have shown up at San Antonio's largest natural area, Government Canyon. Along with state biologists and collaborator Brittany Slabach (Trinity University/College of the Atlantic), we are monitoring nesting attempts and success in relation to habitat quality. This data will be used for adaptive management to encourage continued recovery of this species.
Sensory Pollution and Community ecology
Changes in animal behavior under different stressors can lead to consequences at the community level. In our New Mexico and Texas field sites, we are monitoring changes in plant and animal diversity to better understand how ecosystems may change over time with continued sensory pollution regimes.
Relevant papers:
Phillips et al. 2021: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2020.2906
Willems et al. 2022: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721053006
Ross et al. 2023: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/1365-2435.14275
Relevant papers:
Phillips et al. 2021: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.2020.2906
Willems et al. 2022: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721053006
Ross et al. 2023: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/1365-2435.14275
Song Evolution and conflicts between sexual selection and acoustic adaptation
From 2013-2017, My dissertation research focused on whether and how vocal performance is used by Nuttall's white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli) for male-male competition and female choice across soundscapes. One evolutionarily recent pressure on song evolution is the occurrence of cities and the associated increase in ambient noise, and many species have been observed to change the pitch (frequency) or duration of their song in loud areas. White-crowned sparrows sing a variable song containing a trill, and are well studied for song evolution and acoustic adaptation. The range of frequencies (bandwidth) and the rate of notes (trill rate) in trills are physically constrained by beak movements actively tracking the fundamental frequency. This tradeoff can be measured by vocal deviation and is thought to be an honest trait, but selection on song from increased ambient noise may affect whether performance is a salient signal for receivers.
I've established color-banded populations in San Francisco and Point Reyes National Seashore in California to address this overarching question, as SF is an urban environment filled with anthropogenic noise, and Point Reyes is a relatively quiet, rural location. My dissertation investigated:
1) Do male white-crowned sparrows use vocal performance to assess competitors across landscapes?
2) Is vocal performance itself the salient signal, or does bandwidth or trill rate matter more to receivers?
3) Does territory noise level (LAeq) affect male response to vocal performance and it's components?
More recently, I've continued this research during the COVID-19 pandemic, when noise levels were reduced, to understand if song performance was resilient to rapidly changing soundscapes, and we continue to follow song evolution in this system.
Relevant papers (see CV for full list):
Derryberry, Phillips et al 2020: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abd5777
Phillips and Derryberry 2018: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25834-6
Phillips and Derryberry 2017: https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/134/3/564/5149292
I've established color-banded populations in San Francisco and Point Reyes National Seashore in California to address this overarching question, as SF is an urban environment filled with anthropogenic noise, and Point Reyes is a relatively quiet, rural location. My dissertation investigated:
1) Do male white-crowned sparrows use vocal performance to assess competitors across landscapes?
2) Is vocal performance itself the salient signal, or does bandwidth or trill rate matter more to receivers?
3) Does territory noise level (LAeq) affect male response to vocal performance and it's components?
More recently, I've continued this research during the COVID-19 pandemic, when noise levels were reduced, to understand if song performance was resilient to rapidly changing soundscapes, and we continue to follow song evolution in this system.
Relevant papers (see CV for full list):
Derryberry, Phillips et al 2020: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.abd5777
Phillips and Derryberry 2018: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-25834-6
Phillips and Derryberry 2017: https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/134/3/564/5149292
Master's thesis: How is winter song affected by anthropogenic noise?
My master's thesis investigated how anthropogenic noise affected winter song in Gambel's white-crowned sparrow in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (Phillips and Katti 2020).
Undergraduate research: How do vocalizations vary across landscapes?
My interest in behavior and song stemmed from my undergraduate research project, which investigated geographical differences in Great-tailed grackle vocalizations across landscapes in Costa Rica.
