DISSERATION RESEARCH: Life History Trade-offs: An Investigation of the resource allocation hypothesis in the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)

论文研究：生活史权衡：佛罗里达灌丛鸦 (Aphelocoma coerulescens) 资源分配假说的调查

• 批准号: 0508418
• 负责人: Stephan Schoech
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Memphis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-06-01 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0508418&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERATION; RESEARCH; Life; History; Trade

Dissertation Research: Life History Trade-offs - An investigation of the resource allocation hypothesis in the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Stephan J. Schoech & Raoul K. BoughtonUniversity of MemphisThere is considerable interest in the hypothesized trade-off between current reproductionand survival. However, the mechanisms that mediate this trade-off have been elusive. One mechanism that can affect both reproduction and survival is the immune system. While activation of the immune system during reproduction will likely increase survival, activation will also use energetic resources that could have been directed towards reproduction. The main objectives of this study are to test the resource allocation hypothesis in the monogamous long-lived cooperatively breeding Florida Scrub-Jay, and to investigate endocrine mechanisms that may function as immuno-modulators. Florida Scrub-Jays are a unique model to investigate the resource allocation hypothesis because research in this area has been restricted to migratory species with life histories that are characterized by relatively short life spans and temporally restricted breeding seasons. The sedentary nature, long life span, and socially and genetically monogamous breeding system of the Florida Scrub-Jay provide for a new and unique model to investigate postulated reproduction-survival trade-offs. The study has five specific objectives: (1) To characterize immune responses throughout the yearly cycle with special attention paid to previously identified energetic bottleneck periods when an internal trade-off of resources would be expected to occur; (2) To measure the effects of high quality supplemental food on immune function and reproductive success by comparing jays from supplemented and non-supplemented territories; (3) To determine whether breeding per se is responsible for immune suppression by comparing immune responses in breeders and nonbreeding helpers; (4) To further investigate the interrelationship between immune function and endocrine physiology (especially, testosterone, estrogen, corticosterone, and prolactin); and (5) to monitor both disease and parasite state to assess their effects upon immune function, reproductive effort, and survival. The broader impacts of this study are numerous and include facilitating co-PI Boughton's graduate training as both a professional researcher and as a mentor to undergraduate students. Where possible, we will recruit undergraduate students from the Department of Biology, University of Memphis' NSF funded program, Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology. These students will have the opportunity to learn methods and techniques of field biology, such as bird handling, blood sampling, and assays of immune function. Researchers will be exposed to the general public while working on the suburban portions of Florida Scrub-Jay population, allowing direct communication as to how basic science can investigate the reproductive success, disease exposure, and coping mechanisms of this threatened species. The grass roots concept of public awareness of research programs and the research that is undertaken is fundamental to encourage continued public support of funding programs. Additionally, both co-PIs regularly share their research results with local birding clubs and within the classroom at the University of Memphis. A most important aspect of this study is its connection with the private Archbold Biological Station and the long term Florida Scrub-Jay research. This relationship has promoted a partnership with another PhD student from the University of Missouri at St. Louis, who is concurrently investigating the oxygen free radical hypothesis and how it relates to longevity. The combined efforts of both studies will allow evaluation of two hypotheses put forth to explain why immune suppression may occur during reproduction.

论文研究：生活历史权衡 - 对佛罗里达灌木杰伊（Aphelocoma coerulescens）的资源分配假设的调查Stephan J. Schoech＆Raoul K. Memphisthere的Boughtonuniversity在当前的复制和生存之间的假设权衡是对孟菲斯特尔的Boughtonuniversity的兴趣。但是，调解这种权衡的机制是难以捉摸的。一种可能影响繁殖和生存的机制是免疫系统。虽然在繁殖过程中激活免疫系统可能会增加生存率，但激活还将使用可能针对繁殖的能量资源。这项研究的主要目的是测试一夫一妻制的佛罗里达灌木jay的一夫一妻制合作繁殖的资源分配假设，并研究可能起到免疫调节剂的内分泌机制。佛罗里达州的磨砂jays是研究资源分配假设的独特模型，因为该领域的研究仅限于迁徙物种，其寿命的特征是相对较短的寿命跨度和时间限制了繁殖季节。佛罗里达州灌木丛Jay久坐的性质，长寿以及社会和遗传上一夫一妻制的繁殖系统提供了一种新的独特模型，以研究假定的生殖生存 - 生存权衡。该研究具有五个具体的目标：（1）在整个年度周期中表征免疫反应，并特别注意先前确定的充满活力的瓶颈期，预计会发生内部资源权衡； （2）通过比较来自补充和非补充领土的JAY的高质量补充食品对免疫功能和生殖成功的影响； （3）确定育种本身是否通过比较育种者和非繁殖助手的免疫反应来负责免疫抑制； （4）进一步研究免疫功能和内分泌生理学之间的相互关系（尤其是睾丸激素，雌激素，皮质酮和催乳素）； （5）监测疾病和寄生虫状态，以评估其对免疫功能，生殖努力和生存的影响。这项研究的更广泛的影响很多，包括促进Co-Pi Boughton的研究生培训，既是专业的研究人员又是本科生的导师。在可能的情况下，我们将招募来自孟菲斯大学NSF资助计划的生物学系的本科生，《环境生物学的本科指导》。这些学生将有机会学习野外生物学的方法和技术，例如鸟类处理，抽样和免疫功能的测定。研究人员将在从事佛罗里达州灌木丛人口的郊区部分工作时向公众接触，从而直接沟通基础科学如何研究这种威胁物种的生殖成功，疾病暴露和应对机制。公众对研究计划和研究的研究的基础概念是鼓励持续公众对资金计划的持续支持至关重要的。此外，双方都定期与当地观鸟俱乐部和孟菲斯大学的教室分享他们的研究结果。这项研究的最重要方面是它与私人Archbold生物站和佛罗里达州磨砂Jay的长期研究的联系。这种关系促进了与密苏里大学圣路易斯大学的另一位博士学位学生的合作关系，他正在同时研究氧气自由基假设及其与寿命的关系。两项研究的综合努力将允许评估两个假设，以解释为什么在繁殖过程中可能会发生免疫抑制。