- Communication in leaf warblers and buntings. RFBR project "Mechanisms of communication via 'complex' signals: encoding territorial aggression in passerine bird song," headed by A.S. Opaev. The project aims to determine how selected species of leaf warblers (Phylloscopus) and buntings (Emberiza) may express an aggressive mood through their song. To do this, a portable speaker is placed within a male's territory, playing back the song of the same species. The male believes it is a rival. Since he sees no actual rival, he tries to drive it away using only his voice — that is, he starts singing more fiercely. What exactly this "more fiercely" means is to be determined in the course of the project. To find out, the male's aggressive response will be compared with his ordinary song (when no one is nearby). This will help clarify which specific song parameters may "encode" aggressive motivation.
- Evolution of passerine bird song (A.S. Opaev). This study is devoted to a comparative examination of the organization of song cycles in representatives of different families of songbirds (suborder Oscines) of different evolutionary ages, from the most ancient to the most recent. Based on these data, conclusions will be drawn about the directions and possible causes of the evolution of these traits.