Doctoral Dissertation Research: Female mate choice in primates

博士论文研究：灵长类动物的雌性择偶

• 批准号: 2316896
• 负责人: James Higham
• 金额: $ 3.55万
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-15 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2316896&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Research; Female; mate

The elaborate colors and mating behaviors exhibited by males in many species of birds and fish evolved as adaptations for female mate choice, however, comparatively little is known about female mate choice in mammals. This doctoral dissertation research project examines the evolutionary pressures underlying the role of female mate choice and its implications for male-male competition and reproductive success in a non-human primate. Through measurement and analysis of cues to potential mates – such as scent and color – the results of this project advance knowledge about the physiological and behavioral correlates of mate choice in primates. This project supports a female graduate student in laboratory and statistical training. As part of this project, she collaborates with a conservation organization to support the conservation of endangered primate species, and actively mentors high school and undergraduate students through programs which aim to provide research opportunities to underserved communities. Many primates live in multi-male multi-female groups in which both males and females mate with multiple partners (a polygynandrous mating system). In these mating systems, there are increased opportunities for males to compete over reproduction, and increased scope for females to exert mate choice. The study species displays a unique suite of phenotypic and behavioral traits that appear contrary to those predicted by sexual selection theory, presenting an interesting system in which to test existing evolutionary models regarding female mate choice and male-male competition. This project tests conceptual and theoretical models of the selective pressures underlying the role of female mate choice through two primary objectives: 1) characterization of aspects of male phenotypes (i.e., sexual coloration, chemical profiles of cutaneous glands, dominance rank); and 2) assessment the role of female mate choice by measuring the extent to which female preferences predict male reproductive success. This is achieved by combining behavioral data with innovative biological sampling techniques. In addition to the novel data generated for the study species, through deep interrogation of multiple components of mate choice in a primate this research provides valuable comparative information for the broader study of the evolution of mate choice in mammals.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

许多鸟类和鱼类中雄性表现出的精致颜色和交配行为是为了适应雌性择偶而进化的，然而，我们对哺乳动物中雌性择偶的了解相对较少，该项目研究了雌性择偶作用背后的进化压力。通过测量和分析潜在配偶的线索（例如气味和颜色），该项目的结果加深​​了对生理和行为相关性的了解。的该项目为一名女研究生提供实验室和统计培训支持，她与一个保护组织合作支持濒危灵长类动物的保护，并通过导师计划积极教授高中生和本科生。许多灵长类动物生活在多雄性多雌性群体中，其中雄性和雌性都与多个伴侣交配（一夫多妻制交配系统）。研究物种表现出一系列独特的表型和行为特征，这些特征与性选择理论的预测相反，提出了一个有趣的系统来测试有关雌性的现有进化模型。该项目通过两个主要目标来测试女性择偶作用背后的选择压力的概念和理论模型：1）描述男性表型的各个方面（即性着色、皮肤腺的化学特征）。 , 2）通过测量雌性偏好预测雄性繁殖成功的程度来评估雌性择偶的作用，这是通过将行为数据与创新的生物采样技术相结合来实现的。这项研究对灵长类动物择偶的多个组成部分进行了深入探讨，为更广泛地研究哺乳动物择偶进化提供了宝贵的比较信息。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值进行评估，被认为值得支持和广度影响审查标准。