Dissertation Research: Courtship Pheromones, Female Receptivity, and Sexual Isolation in Plethodontid Salamanders

论文研究：无齿蝾螈的求偶信息素、雌性接受性和性隔离

• 批准号: 9801210
• 负责人: Martin Kreitman
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: University of Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-06-01 至 2000-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9801210&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Courtship; Pheromones; Female

Nontechnical Abstract Proposal # 9801210 Kreitman, M. / Rollmann, S. In terrestrial plethodontid salamanders, a male delivers chemicals substances (pheromones) to the female during courtship. These pheromones lead to an increase in female receptivity, thereby reducing the time a pair spends in courtship. These pheromones may also be used by females to determine whether or not the courting male is a member of her species. This possibility will be tested by observing the behavioral responses of females to male pheromones from different subpopulations within the same species and from males from different species. The behavioral experiments will be accompanied by chemical analyses of the pheromone components that influence female behavior. Many vertebrates rely on chemical signals, such as pheromones, for communication between potential mates. Chemical variation in these pheromones could lead to discrimination against individuals from different subpopulations and perhaps lead to complete reproductive isolation of the subpopulations thereby contributing to the formation of new species. The hypothesis that divergence in pheromones functions to reduce mating has not been tested in a vertebrate species and few vertebrate pheromones have been isolated and identified. Finally, until now, little research has focused on the chemical variability in pheromones or on the relationship between chemical differences and behavioral effects. This research breaks new ground by using the unique opportunity offered in plethodontid salamanders to investigate these issues.

非技术摘要 提案编号9801210 Kreitman，M. / Rollmann，S. 在陆生的厚齿蝾螈中，雄性在求偶时会向雌性传递化学物质（信息素）。 这些信息素导致雌性接受性的增加，从而减少了一对花在求爱上的时间。 这些信息素也可能被雌性用来确定求爱的雄性是否是她的物种的成员。 这种可能性将通过观察雌性对来自同一物种内不同亚群和来自不同物种的雄性的雄性信息素的行为反应来测试。 行为实验将伴随着影响雌性行为的信息素成分的化学分析。 许多脊椎动物依靠化学信号，如信息素，在潜在的配偶之间进行交流。 这些信息素中的化学变化可能导致对来自不同亚群的个体的歧视，并可能导致亚群的完全生殖隔离，从而有助于新物种的形成。 在信息素功能的分歧，以减少交配的假设还没有被测试在脊椎动物物种和少数脊椎动物信息素已被分离和鉴定。 最后，到目前为止，很少有研究集中在信息素的化学变化或化学差异和行为效应之间的关系。 这项研究通过利用plethodontid蝾螈提供的独特机会来调查这些问题，从而开辟了新的领域。