Both studies have revealed interesting departures from the widely held belief that each was monogamous. Whereas experienced female goldfinches resort to polyandry, chipping sparrows, apparently, are characterized by an open, polygamous system, in which the concept of territoriality may be questioned. Studies of both species is continuing.
Interest here lies in the development of defensive strategies by the host species.
Controlled field experiments with clutch manipulations provide the tools through which such relationships are investigated. Students in my laboratory are not required to work on either of the above projects. Instead they are encouraged to develop their own research programs, provided they fall within my areas of expertise. After completing Ph.D. studies in Australia, Sandy Middleton taught for a year in the United Kingdom. In 1966 he was appointed to the faculty of the University of Guelph.