Mechanisms and Consequences of Fitness in a Natural Plant Population

这项研究解决了一些关于决定开花植物进化过程的最基本的问题。不同植物的传粉量和受精量可能不同(雄性繁殖)，以及接收的花粉和结实的种子(雌性繁殖)使用染料跟踪动物传粉者的花粉运输和遗传标记来确定种子的父性，坎贝尔博士将在自然植物种群中确定雄性和雌性繁殖成功。这些结果将产生一些通过雄性和雌性生殖作用于花特征的自然选择的第一次测量，并将允许测试关于繁殖系统进化和生殖结构能量分配的一般理论。对传粉者的行为研究将寻求描述这种选择的机制。此外，将使用数量遗传学的方法将遗传力和选择的现场测量与当前的理论联系起来。这些研究将有助于理解基因限制的作用以及在决定进化过程中相互对立的选择压力之间的冲突。这一结果将对自然种群和农作物都具有重要意义，特别是在涉及种子和水果生产的农业育种项目中。

This study addresses some of the most fundamental questions about processes that determine the evolution of flowering plants. Individual plants can vary in the amount of pollen transported to, and fertilizing, other plants (male reproduction) as well as pollen received and seeds set (female reproduction) Using dyes to follow pollen transport by animal pollinators and genetic markers to determine paternity of seeds, Dr. Campbell will determine male as well as female reproductive success in a natural plant population. The results will yield some of the first measurements of natural selection acting on flower traits through both male and female reproduction, and will allow tests of general theory on the evolution of breeding systems and energy allocation to reproductive structures. Behavioral studies of the pollinators will seek to characterize the mechanisms of this selection. In addition, methods of quantitative genetics will be used to link field measurements of heritabilities and selection to current theory. These studies will contribute to understanding of the roles of genetic constraints and conflicts between opposing selective pressures in determining the course of evolution. The results will have significance for both natural population and crop plants, particularly those in agricultural breeding programs dealing with seed and fruit production.