Video-Imaging Technique for an Experimental Analysis of Behavior

理解动物如何选择配偶既是一个理论挑战，也是一个方法论挑战。许多对不同生物的研究表明，雌性选择配偶，这种选择是基于雄性在身体和行为特征上的差异。然而，对于这种选择是如何做出的，以及它是如何受到遗传和环境因素的影响，人们知之甚少。Drs。Kodric-Brown和Nicoletto将开发并应用一种视频成像技术，以评估雄性孔雀鱼在吸引雌性时的求爱表现和颜色模式的相对重要性。使用这种成像技术的优点是：(a)对雄性颜色图案和求偶行为的精确控制；(b)高度的可重复性，因为同样的雄性图像呈现给雌性；(c)能够独立地或结合地操纵个体行为和形态成分，这将有助于评估它们在雌性选择中的相对重要性。(d)向种群中的不同女性或处于不同人生阶段或经历的同一女性提供完全相同选择的能力。这项研究应能回答以下重要问题：(a)种群内和种群间雌性对配偶的偏好有多大差异？(b)个人的偏好是否一致。它们会随着年龄或经历而改变吗？(c)不同的特征是如何结合起来产生有吸引力的求爱信号的？这个项目的结果也将与行为的其他领域有关，例如在通信系统中使用信号。

Understanding how animals choose mates is both a theoretical and a methodological challenge. Many studies on diverse organisms have shown that females choose mates and that this choice is based on variation among males in physical and behavioral traits. However, little is known about how the choice is made and how it is affected by genetic and environmental factmrs. Drs. Kodric-Brown and Nicoletto will develop and apply a video- imaging technique that will allow assessment of the relative importance of courtship displays and color patterns of male guppies in attracting females. Advantages of using such an imaging technique are: (a) precise control of male color patterns and courtship behavior, (b) high degree of repeatability, because the same male images are presented to females, (c) ability to manipulate individual behavioral and morphological components independently of each other and in combination, which will allow assessment of their relative importance in female choice, and (d) ability to present exactly the same choices to different females in the population or to the same female at different stages of her life or experience. The research should yield answers to such important questions as: (a) How much variation is there in mate preferences among females within and between populations? (b) How consistent are the preferences of individuals. and do they change with age or experience? (c) How do different traits combine to produce attractive courtship signals? Results of this project will also be relevant to other areas of behavior, such as the use of signals in communication systems.