MCAA: Inbreeding Depression, Parental Behavior, and Mate Preference in Two Populations of the Prairie Vole

提案编号：IBN 9728767 PI：Zyleyma Tang-Matrinez 这项研究将以田鼠（Microtus ochrogaster）为模式生物，研究近亲繁殖的遗传和行为效应。 该研究将解决：1。近亲繁殖（定义为近亲之间的交配）对每窝产生的幼崽数量以及幼崽的体重，生长速度和存活率的影响。 2.近亲繁殖对父母行为的影响。 3.田鼠对近亲与非近亲伴侣的偏好，或对近亲与远交伴侣的偏好。 将采用系统、定量行为观察沿着以及对近交系与远交系交配产生的幼仔进行称重和监测，以解决前两个目标。 配偶选择实验将证明田鼠是否在四个具有不同程度近亲繁殖遗传相关性的潜在配偶中表现出偏好。 近亲繁殖对包括人类在内的许多动物物种都有不利影响。这些影响可能包括生长减缓、活力降低和遗传疾病的表达缺陷。 父母行为的缺陷可能会导致或加剧其中的一些影响，但目前几乎没有什么是已知的近亲繁殖和父母行为之间的相互作用。同样，人们对近亲繁殖在决定配偶选择方面的重要性知之甚少。 这项研究有望为动物近亲繁殖可能产生的行为影响提供见解，这些影响可能会外推到人类身上。 此外，所产生的信息将对需要保持种群遗传多样性的畜牧业和保护工作很有价值。

PROPOSAL #: IBN 9728767 PI: Zyleyma Tang-Matrinez The proposed research will examine the genetic and behavioral effects of inbreeding, using the vole, Microtus ochrogaster as the model organism. The research will address: 1. The effects of inbreeding (defined as mating between close relatives) on the number of young produced per litter, as well as the weight, growth rates and survival of the pups. 2. The effects of inbreeding on parental behaviors. 3. Preferences of voles for related versus unrelated partners, or for inbred versus outbred partners. Systematic, quantitative behavioral observations along with weighing and monitoring of pups produced by inbred versus outbred matings will be employed to address the first two objectives. Mate choice experiments will demonstrate whether voles show preferences among four potential mates of different degrees of genetic relatedness ofrinbreeding. Inbreeding has detrimental effects in many species of animals, including humans. These effects may include decreased growth, reduce vigor, and the expression of genetic diseases of defects. Deficits in parental behaviors may cause or exacerbate some of these effects but almost nothing is currently known about the interactions between inbreeding and parental behavior. Similarly, little is known about the importance of inbreeding in determining mate choices. This research is expected to provide insights into possible behavioral effects of inbreeding in animals that could potentially be extrapolated to humans. Moreover, the information generated will be valuable to husbandry and conservation efforts that require the maintenance of genetic diversity in populations.