Mate choice and evolutionary genetics in Xiphophorus hybrid zones

剑尾鱼杂交区的配偶选择和进化遗传学

• 批准号: 0923825
• 负责人: Gil Rosenthal
• 金额: $ 51万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-15 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0923825&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mate; choice; evolutionary; genetics; Xiphophorus; Mate; choice; evolutionary; genetics; Xiphophorus

Choosing a mate is one of the most far-reaching decisions an animal can make. A female's mate choice can influence not only which male traits get passed on to the next generation, but also the formation of new species or the fusion of two species through hybridization. Mating preferences are complex, with females paying attention to numerous different male characteristics, and females often prefer male trait combinations never found in nature. How do complicated female mating preferences drive male trait evolution? This project takes advantage of remarkable natural hybrid zones between two species of swordtail fish in the Sierra Madre Oriental of central Mexico. Males of the two species are strikingly different in physical appearance, and females of the two species show strong differences in their preferences for male characters. Mating preferences for multiple male traits will be evaluated by presenting females with computer-animated clips of males. Genetic mapping will be used to identify which sets of genes are associated with male traits and female preferences. This genetic information will then be used to test how traits and preferences are associated in the wild. This project will directly connect the psychology of mate-choice decisions with the evolutionary consequences of these decisions. The project will sustain collaboration with Mexican researchers, mentoring of minority undergraduates, and conservation, sustainable development, and outreach efforts in rural Mexico.

选择伴侣是动物可以做出的最深远的决定之一。 女性的伴侣选择不仅会影响哪些男性特征传递给下一代，还会影响新物种的形成或通过杂交融合两个物种。 交配偏好很复杂，女性会注意许多不同的男性特征，而女性通常更喜欢在自然界中从未发现的男性特质组合。 复杂的女性交配偏好如何推动男性特质的进化？该项目利用了墨西哥塞拉山脉马德雷的两种剑尾鱼之间的显着天然杂种区。 这两个物种的雄性在外观上截然不同，这两个物种的女性在男性角色的偏好方面表现出很大的差异。 通过向女性展示男性计算机动画夹的男性，将评估多个男性特征的交配偏好。 遗传映射将用于识别哪些基因与男性性状和女性偏好有关。 然后，将使用此遗传信息来测试野外特征和偏好的关系。 该项目将直接将伴侣选择决策的心理与这些决定的进化后果联系起来。 该项目将与墨西哥研究人员合作，指导少数族裔本科生，以及在墨西哥农村的保护，可持续发展和外展工作。