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

装饰性与遗传亲和性在雀形目鸟类配偶选择中的作用Pis：Geoffrey E.Hill博士和Herman Mays博士雌性动物如何选择配偶？很早以前就知道，雌性动物会用色彩鲜艳等观赏性特征的表达作为选择配偶的依据。事实上，越来越多的证据表明，这种装饰性特征演变成了配偶质量的指标。行为生物学的一项新理论表明，动物也可能根据基因相容来选择配偶。最近的研究表明，遗传多样性与个体健康的重要方面有关，例如抗击疾病的能力。因此，对于雌性来说，在基因构成与她最不相似的种群中选择雄性可能是一个优势，从而产生基因多样化和健康的后代。无论雌性在选择配偶时是否使用观赏特征、遗传恭维的表达，还是两者兼而有之，这是对东方蓝鸟的研究重点，东方蓝鸟是一种具有明亮蓝色羽毛的物种，雌性在选择配偶时使用这种颜色。新的基因技术将被用来确定成对的蓝鸟的遗传兼容性。然后，将对基因构成大致相似的配对后代的健康状况进行测量。还将进行择偶实验，允许雌性在基因相似或肤色鲜艳的潜在配偶之间进行选择。在整个项目中，高中生、本科生和研究生都将参与研究。

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.