Collaborative Research/RUI: The Role of Frequency Dependent Selection in the Evolution of Color Pattern Polymorphism in Guppies

自然形成的孔雀鱼种群在雄性的颜色模式上表现出显著的基于遗传的变异。每只雄鱼都有独特的颜色图案，或者是与种群中的一条或几条其他鱼共享的颜色。尽管对这种模式生物进行了数十年的研究，但这种多态是如何保持的仍然是一个谜。实验室研究表明，雄性交配的成功可能取决于他们的颜色模式是罕见的还是常见的，理论表明，这种依赖于频率的选择可能会保持遗传变异。这项研究将考察频率依赖选择在维持自然发生的孔雀鱼种群的颜色模式变异中的作用。它将使用新的技术对鱼类进行分子亲子关系分析和永久标记，以检查溪流中个体鱼类的生存模式和交配成功。长期以来，了解遗传变异如何在自然种群中持续存在一直是进化生物学研究的目标，需要进行更多的实证研究。不断减少的有机体种群经常遭受遗传变异的丧失。因此，这是一个日益重要的研究和应用于保护战略的主题。这项研究涉及研究和本科机构之间的国际合作，以及本科生和一名高中教师的研究参与。

Naturally occurring populations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exhibit striking genetically based variability in the color patterns of males. Each male has a unique color pattern or one that is shared with one or very few other fish in the population. How this polymorphism is maintained remains a mystery despite decades of study on this model organism. Laboratory studies have suggested that the mating success of males may depend on how rare or common their color pattern is, and theory suggests that such frequency dependent selection could maintain genetic variation. This study will examine the role of frequency dependent selection in maintaining color pattern variation in naturally occurring guppy populations. It will use new techniques for molecular paternity analysis and permanent marking of fish to examine patterns of survival and mating success of individual fish in streams. Understanding how genetic variation can persist in natural populations has long been a goal of research in evolutionary biology and more empirical study is needed. Dwindling populations of organisms often suffer from loss of genetic variation. Thus, this is an increasingly important topic for investigation and application to conservation strategies. This research involves an international collaboration between research and undergraduate institutions, and research participation by undergraduates and a high school teacher.