生物扩散是生态学中的基本过程，对个体繁殖成功、种群的遗传结构等方面有着重要影响作用。本项目综合脚环标记、无线电跟踪和分子生物学方法，对极旱荒漠环境条件下雀形目小型留鸟黑顶麻雀的扩散行为规律进行系统研究。掌握其扩散时间和扩散过程；调查与扩散行为有关的各项因子，分析各因子与扩散率和扩散距离的相关关系，阐明影响黑顶麻雀出生扩散和繁殖扩散行为选择的主导因子；并通过微卫星分子标记的分析，明确黑顶麻雀种群遗传结构在年内不同生活史阶段以及年间变化规律；分析不同繁殖种群间遗传结构的特点、基因流及遗传分化情况，与繁殖种群间扩散行为参数进行相关分析，探讨扩散行为对种群遗传结构、遗传多样性的作用。

Dispersal is a fundamental process in ecology that has a profound influence at multiple levels of organization, from the reproductive success of individuals to the genetic structure and viability of populations. This project will illuminate the dispersal behavior of the Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri), a Passeriformes small species distributed in an extra-arid desert environment, by combining direct and indirect methods including re-observing marked individuals, radio tracking and molecular assessing technology. We will also investigate factors related to dispersal of the sparrow, and analyze their correlation with dispersal distance and rate to understand the behavioural mechanisms behind dispersal decisions of this species. Meanwhile, we will clarify the population genetic structure changes among different life-history stages and different years, analyze the parameters of genetic structure, gene flow and genetic differentiation between neighboring populations, and then give insights into the important consequences for the genetic structure of populations caused by the dispersal of this species.