DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Coordination of testosterone-mediated phenotypes and underlying endocrine mechanisms across divergent populations of the dark-eyed junco (J. hyemalis)

论文研究：黑眼灯笼草（J. hyemalis）不同种群中睾酮介导的表型和潜在内分泌机制的协调

• 批准号: 0909834
• 负责人: Ellen Ketterson
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: Indiana University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0909834&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Coordination; testosterone; mediated

Hormones simultaneously mediate numerous traits of plants and animals thus coordinating expression of size, physiology and behavior. When environments change or new environments are colonized, this common control of traits by hormones may or may not facilitate adaptation to the altered environment, depending on the details of hormonal control. In vertebrate animals, the hormone testosterone (T) has particular importance for traits related to reproduction, such as ornamentation and aggression. The common control of traits by T may facilitate adaptation by preserving favorable combinations (e.g., aggression coupled with ornamentation to simultaneously deter rivals and attract mates) or delay adaptation if control of a potentially beneficial trait is linked by the hormone to another trait that would be detrimental. This interplay has important implications for species evolution and response to climate change, yet we know surprisingly little about its actual nature. This project will support field and laboratory research to address whether relationships between T and various behavioral and morphological traits observed in one sub-species of a songbird, the dark-eyed junco, can be used to predict the same relationships in another subspecies that lives in a very different environment. The project will also examine the underlying physiological mechanisms that may contribute to potential differences in these relationships, asking whether they vary among individuals and subspecies. Specifically, hormone manipulations and neural studies with captive birds will examine hormonal cascades that trigger T release, as well as hormone receptors that affect T's influence on traits. Consistent co-variation between T, traits, and physiological mechanisms across subspecies will suggest that hormone systems evolve as a unit. Alternatively, absence of similarity across populations will suggest high potential for independent evolution, allowing hormone systems to diverge more freely or less consistently. The research will provide numerous opportunities for effective mentorship of diverse undergraduates, and the findings are expected to contribute to an understanding of hormone system evolution.

激素同时介导植物和动物的许多特征，从而协调大小，生理和行为的表达。当环境变化或定植新的环境时，荷尔蒙对性状的共同控制可能会或可能不会促进适应改变的环境，具体取决于荷尔蒙控制的细节。在脊椎动物中，激素睾丸激素（T）对于与繁殖有关的特征（例如装饰和攻击）特别重要。 T特征对特征的共同控制可能通过保留有利的组合（例如，侵略性加上装饰与同时阻止竞争对手并吸引伴侣的侵略性）或延迟适应，如果对荷尔蒙将激素与另一种有害的特征联系起来，则可以延迟适应。这种相互作用对物种进化和对气候变化的反应具有重要意义，但我们对其实际性质知之甚少。该项目将支持现场和实验室研究，以解决T与深色眼睛的junco的一个亚种中观察到的T与各种行为和形态学特征之间的关系，可以用于预测在另一个不同环境中生活的相同关系。该项目还将检查可能导致这些关系潜在差异的潜在生理机制，询问它们在个人和亚种之间是否有所不同。具体而言，使用圈养鸟类的激素操纵和神经研究将检查触发T释放的激素级联反应，以及影响T对性状的影响的激素受体。 T，性状和生理机制之间的一致共同变化将表明激素系统会演变为单位。另外，人群之间缺乏相似性将表明具有独立进化的高潜力，从而使激素系统更自由或更一致地发散。 这项研究将为有效指导多样化的本科生提供许多机会，预计这些发现将有助于理解激素系统的演变。