Evolution of Coloration and Mate Preferences Along Environmental Gradients

颜色和择偶偏好随环境梯度的演变

• 批准号: 0001309
• 负责人: Gregory Grether
• 金额: $ 3.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-04-01 至 2001-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0001309&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Evolution; Coloration; Mate; Preferences; Along

The only barriers to reproduction between some closely related species are female mate preferences. Factors that cause female mate preferences, or the characteristics of males they are based on, to evolve (i.e., change over generations) can lead to the formation of new species. Scientists are just beginning to understand the role of the environment in this process. In guppies, a small stream-dwelling fish native to Trinidad, females prefer males with larger and "brighter" orange spots. The orange spots contain two types of pigments, one of which males can synthesize (drosopterins) and the other of which they must obtain from their food (carotenoids). The main source of carotenoids for guppies is algae, which grow on rocks in the stream. Wider streams make larger gaps in the forest canopy, and consequently receive more sunlight and have larger standing crops of algae. This project will examine how variation among streams in forest canopy cover affects the evolution of male coloration and female mate preferences. The methods will include field experiments, laboratory breeding experiments, color measurements, and biochemical analyses.The broader goal is to develop a deeper understanding of how the environment affects the evolution of mate preferences and the traits they favor. This study will contribute to our knowledge of biological diversity.

一些密切相关的物种之间唯一的繁殖障碍是雌性交配偏好。 导致女性择偶偏好的因素，或它们所基于的男性特征，进化（即，（3）物种的进化可能导致新物种的形成。 科学家们刚刚开始了解环境在这一过程中的作用。 孔雀鱼是特立尼达岛的一种小型溪流鱼类，雌性孔雀鱼更喜欢有较大且“明亮”的橙子斑点的雄性。 橙子斑含有两种色素，一种是雄性可以合成的（drosopterins），另一种是它们必须从食物中获得的（类胡萝卜素）。 孔雀鱼类胡萝卜素的主要来源是藻类，它们生长在溪流中的岩石上。 较宽的溪流在森林树冠上形成较大的空隙，因此接受更多的阳光，并有更多的藻类作物。 这个项目将研究森林冠层覆盖的溪流之间的变化如何影响雄性色彩和雌性配偶偏好的演变。 研究方法包括野外实验、实验室育种实验、颜色测量和生化分析。更广泛的目标是更深入地了解环境如何影响择偶偏好的进化以及它们所青睐的性状。 这项研究将有助于我们了解生物多样性。