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.

激素同时调节植物和动物的许多性状，从而协调体型、生理和行为的表达。当环境发生变化或新的环境被殖民时，激素对性状的这种共同控制可能会或可能不会促进适应改变的环境，具体取决于激素控制的细节。在脊椎动物中，睾酮激素 (T) 对于与繁殖相关的性状（例如装饰性和攻击性）特别重要。 T 对性状的共同控制可能会通过保留有利的组合（例如，攻击性与装饰相结合，同时威慑竞争对手并吸引配偶）来促进适应，或者如果激素将潜在有益性状的控制与另一种性状联系起来，则延迟适应。有害的。这种相互作用对物种进化和对气候变化的反应具有重要影响，但令人惊讶的是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，以解决在鸣禽的一个亚种（黑眼灯笼草）中观察到的 T 与各种行为和形态特征之间的关系是否可以用于预测生活在其中的另一个亚种的相同关系。一个非常不同的环境。该项目还将研究可能导致这些关系潜在差异的潜在生理机制，询问它们在个体和亚种之间是否存在差异。具体来说，激素操作和圈养鸟类的神经研究将检查触发 T 释放的激素级联，以及影响 T 对性状影响的激素受体。跨亚种的 T、性状和生理机制之间一致的共变表明激素系统作为一个整体进化。或者，不同种群之间缺乏相似性将表明独立进化的巨大潜力，使激素系统能够更自由或更不一致地分化。 该研究将为不同本科生的有效指导提供大量机会，研究结果预计将有助于理解激素系统的进化。