Competition and Communication: ROW Award

雄雄竞争与雌雄交配的相对重要性 在决定繁殖成功的偏好已经研究 包括淡水孔雀鱼 博士 布鲁斯的初步观察表明雄性孔雀鱼 似乎会根据不同的环境 存在或不存在的最高级别的男性的社会 组 这些观察表明，男性的角色 竞争和替代交配策略值得进一步研究 调查 布鲁斯博士将研究社会结构对 雄孔雀鱼的求偶表演 三个男性的社会群体 三只雌性孔雀鱼将被观察以确定雄性 社会等级;最高等级的（阿尔法）男性将是 从群体中被移除以及从属雄性的行为 监测。 领头的雄性会被重新引入 雄性的求偶行为。 从属男性的性 当雄性首领不在时， 在重新引入后会减少 在随后的一项研究中， 在一个稳定的社会群体中， 一个男性小说的介绍前后。 驻地 男性的性行为预计将保持高水平或增加， 抑制了新的雄性向雌性的求偶表现。 如果竞争影响了雄性孔雀鱼的求偶表现， 那么雄性之间的竞争可能会影响生殖成功， 只是直接地，通过从竞争中去除一些雄性， 间接地，通过影响男性与女性的沟通， 从而导致雌性对配偶的偏好 布鲁斯博士的研究 因此有可能有助于我们理解 繁殖成功的行为因素。

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.