The Role of Ornamentation Versus Genetic Compatibility in Passerine Bird Mate Choice

装饰与遗传相容性在雀形目鸟类择偶中的作用

• 批准号: 0235778
• 负责人: Geoffrey Hill
• 金额: $ 53万
• 依托单位: Auburn University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-04-01 至 2008-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0235778&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Role; Ornamentation; Versus; Genetic; Compatibility

The Role of Ornamentation Versus GeneticCompatibility in Passerine Bird Mate ChoicePIs: Dr. Geoffrey E. Hill and Dr. Herman MaysHow do female animals choose mates? It has long been known that female animals the use expression of ornamental traits, such as bright coloration, as the basis for choosing mates. Indeed there is growing evidence that such ornamental traits evolved as indicators of mate quality. A new theory in behavioral biology suggests that animals may also choose mates based on genetic compatibility. Recent studies indicate that genetic diversity is linked to important aspects of individual fitness, such as the ability to fight disease. There may, therefore, be an advantage for females to choose males within a population whose genetic makeup is most dissimilar to hers, thereby producing offspring that are genetically diverse and healthy. Whether females use the expression of ornamental traits, genetic complimentarity, or both in their choice of mates is the focus of this study of Eastern Bluebirds, a species with bright blue plumage coloration that is used by females in mate choice. New genetic techniques will be used to determine the genetic compatibility of pairs of bluebirds. The health of offspring from pairs that are more or less similar in genetic makeup will then be measured. Mate choice experiments will also be conducted in which females are allowed to choose between potential mates who are either genetically similar or brightly colored. Throughout this project high school, undergrad, and grad students will be involved in research.

装饰与遗传相容性在雀形目鸟类择偶中的作用PI：Geoffrey E. Hill 博士和 Herman Mays 博士雌性动物如何选择配偶？人们很早就知道，雌性动物利用装饰性特征（例如鲜艳的颜色）作为选择配偶的基础。 事实上，越来越多的证据表明，这种装饰性特征是作为交配质量的指标而进化的。 行为生物学的一项新理论表明，动物也可以根据遗传兼容性来选择配偶。最近的研究表明，遗传多样性与个体健康的重要方面有关，例如抵抗疾病的能力。 因此，女性在基因组成与其最相似的群体中选择男性可能具有优势，从而产生遗传多样性和健康的后代。 雌性在选择配偶时是否使用装饰性特征、遗传互补性或两者兼而有之，是本次东部蓝知更鸟研究的重点。东部蓝知更鸟是一种具有亮蓝色羽毛的物种，雌性在择偶时会使用这些特征。 新的遗传技术将用于确定蓝知更鸟对的遗传相容性。 然后将测量基因组成或多或少相似的配对后代的健康状况。 还将进行择偶实验，允许雌性在基因相似或颜色鲜艳的潜在伴侣之间进行选择。 在整个项目中，高中生、本科生和研究生都将参与研究。