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

自然发生的孔雀鱼种群（Poecilia reticulata）在雄性的颜色模式上表现出惊人的遗传变异。每条雄性鱼都有独特的颜色图案，或者与种群中的一条或极少数其他鱼共享。尽管对这种模式生物进行了数十年的研究，但这种多态性是如何维持的仍然是一个谜。实验室研究表明，雄性的交配成功率可能取决于它们的颜色图案有多罕见或多常见，理论表明，这种频率依赖的选择可以保持遗传变异。本研究将探讨频率依赖选择在维持自然发生的孔雀鱼种群颜色模式变化中的作用。它将使用分子父系分析和鱼类永久标记的新技术来检查溪流中个体鱼类的生存模式和交配成功。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，需要更多的实证研究。不断减少的生物种群经常遭受遗传变异的损失。因此，这是研究和应用于保护策略的一个日益重要的课题。这项研究涉及研究机构和本科院校之间的国际合作，以及本科生和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.