This project is enhancing the capability of the department to provide laboratory experiences which illustrate and test theories of animal behavior, communication, and ecology that are introduced in the lectures of six existing courses. In addition, it provides advanced undergraduate research opportunities in the disciplines of animal behavior, communication, and ecology; upgrades the animal behavior and ecology facilities (radio telemetry) currently existing at this institution, and adds to existing animal behavior and ecology facilities an important ability to analyze animal communications. With it, undergraduates have ready access to state-of-the-art, computer- interfaced sound spectrographic and video taping equipment for the analysis of animal communication. All this enhances the undergraduate biology majors' opportunities to become researchers at the entry level and to increase these skills at the independent research level. The department is conducting a special program for recruiting talented minority members into this sequence. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.
