Female Variability and the Nature of Male Quality

本项目将研究性别在行为和生理上的差异，重点关注女性差异在决定性选择结果中的作用，以及男性质量的定义，该定义可用于评估各种情况下的状况或活力。通过研究女性的行为和形态，以及使用免疫能力指数来分析男性的素质，这项研究将扩大对普遍的认识，一种反映免疫系统能力的条件或素质的衡量标准与个体的适合度明显相关。利用圈养的红色丛林家禽，这项工作建立在先前的研究基础上，表明雌性更喜欢与有大而多彩的梳子的雄性交配，并且雄性肠道寄生虫的感染阻碍了雌性在选择配偶时使用的相同特征的发展。此外，高度装饰的个体有较少的循环淋巴细胞，这表明这些雄性通过外表和免疫反应来降低免疫能力，并将行为学和免疫学的基础和应用研究结合起来。结果将是更好地理解行为，包括攻击行为和压力经历，如何反映在与所有动物健康相关的免疫系统参数中。

Abstract Zuk 9514055 This project will examine the ways in which the sexes differ in both behavior and physiology, concentrating on the role of variation among females in determining the out come of sexual selection, and a definition of male quality that can be used to assess condition or vigor under a wide range of circumstances. By examining female behavior and morphology, and by using indices of immunocompetence to analyze male quality, the research will extend knowledge of universal, a measure of condition or quality which reflects immune system competence is clearly linked to an individual s fitness. Using captive red jungle fowl, the work builds on previous studies showing that females prefer to mate with males with large, colorful combs, and that infection of males with an intestinal parasite hampers the development of the same characters used by females in choosing mates. In addition, highly ornamented individuals, have fewer circulating lymphocytes, suggesting that such males pay a price in terms of reduced immune competence by appearance, and immune response, and will integrate basic and applied research in behavior and immunology. The outcome will be a better understanding of how behavior, including aggressive behavior and stressful experiences, is reflected in immune system parameters that are relevant to the health of all animals.