Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: The Reproductive Trajectories of Geladas (Theropithecus gelada)

博士论文改进：狒狒（Theropithecus gelada）的繁殖轨迹

• 批准号: 0962160
• 负责人: Jacinta Beehner
• 金额: $ 1.99万
• 依托单位: Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-15 至 2012-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0962160&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Reproductive; Trajectories

Strong male bonds are rare among primates, especially for female-bonded species. Thus, the relationship between male bonding and reproductive strategies remains largely unexamined in female-bonded species. Geladas (Theropithecus gelada) provide an ideal model for understanding how male bonds influence male reproductive trajectories in a female-bonded species. Prior to acquiring reproductive access to females, "bachelor" geladas live in cohesive all-male groups. Eventually, males graduate from these groups to gain sole reproductive access to a group of females (one-male unit). Bachelors acquire one-male units using one of several strategies: (1) directly overthrowing the leader male, (2) submissively entering a unit and attempting to pare females away from the unit over time, or (3) capitalizing on the chaos of a recent takeover to opportunistically mate with females. Additionally, bachelors have been observed to cooperate in attempts to overthrow leader males and enter one-male units with former members of their all-male group - yet only one male eventually reaps the reproductive benefits. This project investigates the behavioral and hormonal factors that shape the reproductive trajectory of gelada males as they move from an all-male group to a one-male unit. The researchers will(i) describe the social interactions among bachelors within their all-male group; (ii) determine the behavioral and hormonal factors that influence bachelor participation in takeover attempts of leader males, and (iii) determine whether bachelor quality predicts a reproductive strategy. Behavioral data and noninvasive fecal hormone sampling will document the reproductive trajectories of male geladas. Additionally, digital photographs will be taken of male chest patch color - a feature that may indicate male quality - to document changes in color as males move from their bachelor groups to one-male units. Results from this research will inform conservation decisions regarding these rare primates, and the investigator's presence in the Simien Mountains National Park help deter illegal activities in this World Heritage Site that is in danger. This project provides income and training to local Ethiopian field assistants and the co-PI has arranged to explain gelada behavior to high school students in several U.S. states.

强有力的雄性关系在灵长类动物中很少见，尤其是对于雌性关系物种。因此，在雌性结合物种中，雄性结合和繁殖策略之间的关系在很大程度上仍未得到检验。狒狒（Theropithecus gelada）为了解雄性纽带如何影响雌性纽带物种中的雄性生殖轨迹提供了一个理想的模型。在获得雌性狒狒的繁殖机会之前，“单身汉”狒狒生活在有凝聚力的全雄性群体中。最终，雄性从这些群体中毕业，获得与一群雌性（单雄性单位）的唯一繁殖机会。单身汉使用以下几种策略之一获得单雄性单位：（1）直接推翻雄性领导者，（2）顺从地进入一个单位并试图随着时间的推移将雌性从该单位中剔除，或者（3）利用一个单位的混乱最近接管机会与雌性交配。此外，人们还观察到，单身汉会合作试图推翻雄性领袖，并与全雄性群体的前成员一起进入单雄性单位——但最终只有一只雄性获得了繁殖好处。该项目研究了当狒狒雄性从全雄性群体转变为单雄性群体时，影响雄性狒狒繁殖轨迹的行为和荷尔蒙因素。研究人员将（i）描述全男性群体中单身汉之间的社交互动； （ii）确定影响单身汉参与领导者男性接管尝试的行为和激素因素，以及（iii）确定单身汉质量是否可以预测繁殖策略。行为数据和无创粪便激素采样将记录雄性狒狒的繁殖轨迹。此外，还将拍摄雄性胸部斑块颜色的数码照片（这一特征可能表明雄性品质），以记录当雄性从单身群体转移到单雄性单位时颜色的变化。这项研究的结果将为有关这些稀有灵长类动物的保护决策提供信息，调查人员在四面山国家公园的存在有助于阻止在这个面临危险的世界遗产地进行非法活动。 该项目为埃塞俄比亚当地的现场助理提供收入和培训，联合首席研究员已安排向美国几个州的高中生解释狒狒的行为。