Doctoral Dissertation Research: Cooperative Reproduction

摘要 提案编号9623224 PI：S。T.埃姆伦·巴斯顿 1859年，查尔斯达尔文提出了科学史上最深刻的思想之一：自然选择进化论。 自达尔文以来，人们普遍认为，自然选择应该有利于那些行为方式使其存活后代总数最大化的个体。 在这种情况下，合作育种是一个进化悖论，因为它指的是一种社会制度，在这种制度下，个人放弃自己的繁殖，并帮助他人照顾年轻人。 拟议的研究将通过首次调查其对海洋环境的适用性来测试当前关于合作育种进化的理论的稳健性。 本研究将探讨巴布亚新几内亚马当泻湖小丑海葵鱼的繁殖系统。 在这个网站上，由一对繁殖和0 - 6青少年组成的群体捍卫海葵作为生殖领土。 三个问题将被调查：1）青少年在海葵增加繁殖后代的数量？ 1995年一项试点研究的初步数据表明，幼鱼确实增加了繁殖对后代的数量。 2)幼鱼如何增加繁殖者的后代数量？ 3)繁殖系统对幼鱼的进化代价和好处是什么？ 该项目将结合联合收割机全年的实地观察，实验操作，和亲属关系的分子分析。 海葵鱼提供了一个独特的机会，以扩大我们的知识行为可塑性的动物社会。 深入了解研究种群内的繁殖系统将有助于与其他种群的A。它们与具有不同交配系统的percula以及其他生活在热带和亚热带印度太平洋的海葵鱼类有着密切的关系。 这项研究将引起行为和进化生物学家以及热带鱼爱好者的兴趣，因为海葵鱼是最受欢迎的咸水水族馆鱼类。

Abstract Proposal # 9623224 PI: S. T. Emlen & P.M. Buston In 1859, Charles Darwin put forward one of the most profound ideas in the history of science; the idea of evolution by natural selection. Since Darwin, it has become widely accepted that natural selection should favor individuals that behave in ways that maximize their total number of surviving offspring. In this context cooperative breeding is an evolutionary paradox because it refers to social systems where individuals forego their own reproduction and assist others in the care of young. The proposed research will test the robustness of current theory concerning the evolution of cooperative breeding by investigating its applicability to the marine environment for the first time. The research proposed will investigate the breeding system of the Clown anemonefish Amphiprion percula in Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea. At this site, groups composed of a breeding pair and 0 - 6 juveniles defend anemones as reproductive territories. Three questions will be investigated: 1) do juveniles at the anemone increase the number of offspring of the breeders? Preliminary data, from a 1995 pilot study, suggests that juveniles do indeed increase the number of offspring of the breeding pair. 2) how do the juveniles increase the number of offspring of the breeders? 3) what are the evolutionary costs and benefits of the breeding system to the juveniles? The project will combine year round field observations, experimental manipulations, and molecular analysis of kin relationships. The anemonefishes offer a unique opportunity to expand our knowledge of behavioral plasticity in animal societies. Athorough understanding of the breeding system within the studied population will facilitate comparisons with other populations of A. percula which have different mating systems, as well as with other anemonefishes which live throughout the tropical and sub-tropical Ind opacific. The research will be of interest to behavioral and evolutionary biologists, as well as tropical fish hobbyists because the anemonefishes are some of the most popular salt water aquarium fish.