Competition and Communication: ROW Award

在包括淡水孔雀鱼在内的各种物种中，已经研究了雄性与雄性竞争和雌性配偶偏好在决定繁殖成功方面的相对重要性。布鲁斯博士的初步观察表明，雄性孔雀鱼似乎会根据其社会群体中级别最高的雄性的存在或不存在来调整它们的求偶表现。这些观察结果表明，雄-雄竞争和替代交配策略的作用值得进一步研究。布鲁斯博士将研究社会结构对雄性孔雀鱼求偶行为的影响。将观察由三只雄性和三只雌性孔雀组成的社会团体，以确定雄性的社会等级；然后将最高等级的雄性(阿尔法)从该团体中移除，并监测从属雄性的行为。然后，阿尔法雄性将被重新引入，并观察所有雄性的求偶行为。当阿尔法雄鸟不在时，下级雄鸟的性行为预计会增加，而在阿尔法雄鸟重新引入后，其性行为会减少。在随后的研究中，一个稳定的社会群体中的雄性在引入新雄性之前和之后的行为将被监测。居民男性的性行为预计会保持在较高水平或增加，并抑制新男性对女性的求爱表现。如果竞争影响到雄性孔雀鱼的求偶表现，那么雄雄竞争不仅可能直接影响繁殖成功，因为它会将一些雄性排除在竞争之外，而且还会间接影响雄性与雌性的交流，从而影响雌性对配偶的偏好。因此，布鲁斯博士的研究有可能有助于我们理解生殖成功的行为因素。

The relative importance of male-male competition and female mate preference in determining reproductive success has been studied in a variety of species, including freshwater guppies. Dr. Bruce's preliminary observations indicate that male guppies appear to adjust their courtship displays depending on the presence or absence of the highest-ranking male of their social group. These observations suggest that the roles of male-male competition and alternative mating strategies deserve further investigation. Dr. Bruce will investigate the effects of social structure on courtship displays of male guppies. Social groups of three male and three female guppies will be observed to determine male social rank; the highest-ranking (alpha) male will then be removed from the group and the behavior of the subordinate males monitored. The alpha male will then be reintroduced and all males' courtship behavior observed. Subordinate males' sexual behavior is expected to increase when the alpha male is absent and decrease after his reintroduction. In a subsequent study, the behavior of males in a stable social group will be monitored before and after the introduction of a novel male. The resident males' sexual behavior is expected to remain high or increase and inhibit the novel male's courtship displays to females. If competition affects the courtship displays of male guppies, then male-male competition may affect reproductive success not only directly, by removing some males from contention, but also indirectly, by influencing males' communication with females and thereby the females' preference for mates. Dr. Bruce's research thus has the potential for contributing to our understanding of the behavioral factors in reproductive success.