Social Environment, Hormones, and Ontogenetic Carry-Over Effects on Male Reproductive Phenotypes in a Polymorphic bird

社会环境、激素和个体遗传对多态性鸟类雄性生殖表型的影响

• 批准号: 0964826
• 负责人: Michael Webster
• 金额: $ 46.23万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 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: 2009-08-17 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0964826&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Social; Environment; Hormones; Ontogenetic; Carry

Male animals typically show considerable plasticity in the behavioral tactics and signals that they use to obtain mates. For example, in many bird populations, some males breed in bright plumage while others breed in relatively dull plumage. It is generally thought that plastic expression of sexual traits depends on both intrinsic (body condition) and extrinsic cues (social interactions), allowing males to adjust their investment in signals according to their quality and relative likelihood of mating success, and consequently that such traits honestly signal male quality to conspecifics. However, the mechanisms that translate these cues to male sexual traits, and thereby allow for plastic expression of sexual traits, are poorly understood. This research will examine the mechanisms of flexible expression of male reproductive phenotypes in the red-backed fairy wren (Malurus melanocephalus). In particular, this project will determine experimentally the effects of physical condition, social environment and stress on the hormones that affect male reproductive type. This work will combine both functional and mechanistic analyses, and will push the study of phenotypic plasticity and sexual signals in new directions. In addition, the research will explore carry-over effects of early life environment on male condition and reproductive type, a cutting-edge field of research emerging from the recent acknowledgement that early development can have important effects on adult traits. These results will have major implications for theoretical models of the evolution of sexual signals. This research also will contribute directly to the training of two graduate students and numerous undergraduates. Undergraduate training will include a novel internship program that will pair students from American universities with Australian students to conduct collaborative research. Thus, this project will involve undergraduates in all aspects of the research experience, from project design through publication, as well as giving them an enriching international experience.

雄性动物通常在用于获取配偶的行为策略和信号方面表现出相当大的可塑性。 例如，在许多鸟类种群中，一些雄性以明亮的羽毛繁殖，而另一些则以相对暗淡的羽毛繁殖。 人们普遍认为，性特征的可塑性表达取决于内在（身体状况）和外在线索（社会互动），允许雄性根据其质量和交配成功的相对可能性来调整对信号的投资，因此这些特征诚实地向同种人传达男性品质的信号。 然而，人们对将这些线索转化为男性性特征并从而允许性特征可塑性表达的机制知之甚少。 这项研究将研究红背细尾鹪鹩（Malurus melanocephalus）雄性生殖表型的灵活表达机制。 特别是，该项目将通过实验确定身体状况、社会环境和压力对影响男性生殖类型的激素的影响。 这项工作将结合功能分析和机械分析，并将表型可塑性和性信号的研究推向新的方向。 此外，该研究还将探讨早期生活环境对男性状况和生殖类型的后遗症，这是最近人们认识到早期发育会对成年特征产生重要影响而出现的一个前沿研究领域。 这些结果将对性信号进化的理论模型产生重大影响。 这项研究还将直接有助于培养两名研究生和众多本科生。 本科生培训将包括一项新颖的实习计划，该计划将美国大学的学生与澳大利亚学生配对进行合作研究。 因此，该项目将让本科生参与从项目设计到出版的各个方面的研究经验，并为他们提供丰富的国际经验。