DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Understanding Coordinated Display in a Lek Breeding Bird: Function, Maintenance and Fitness

Lek交配系统是指雄性聚集在一起，通过展示来吸引雌性，这引起了生态学家的极大兴趣。特别地，lek交配系统吸引了科学家的注意，因为明显的生殖倾斜，在这种情况下，人口中只有少数雄性繁殖成功，而大多数都没有。这种繁殖歪斜的存在引起了对泄漏和合作展示的稳定性的质疑，但在行为生态学中仍然是一个未解决的现象。本研究的主要目的是阐明雄性猿猴的生殖策略是如何随着时间的推移而维持的。为了实现这一目标，将在厄瓜多尔的一个低地雨林地点对一种繁殖韭葱的侏儒猴（Pipra filicauda）的繁殖和社会动态进行为期三年的深入研究。这些目标将通过对雄性的行为观察来实现，至少可以确定在场雄性的身份以及哪些雄性在生殖展示中合作。此外，将找到雌性侏儒鸟的巢穴，从雏鸟身上获取血液样本，以确定父系关系（即哪只雄性是后代的父亲）。有关雏鸟的雄性亲缘关系和已知的雏鸟父亲身份的信息提供了直接和间接的证据，证明雄性加入雏鸟对繁殖有好处。本研究将为一名研究生和几名本科生助理提供涉及现场和实验室技术的教育经验。该项目建立并加强了两个主办机构——基多旧金山大学（USFQ）和密苏里大学圣分校之间的国际合作。路易(UMSL)。此外，该项目使东道国机构能够通过整合和培训其本科生适用的研究技术来建立互动的学习环境。该项目还通过向USFQ和Tiputini生物站提供基本生物信息，帮助厄瓜多尔低地的积极保护。最终，该项目填补了科学知识的空白，同时建立了国际合作，促进了厄瓜多尔生态系统的保护。

Lek mating systems, in which males aggregate and display to attract females, are of great interest to ecologists. In particular, lek mating systems attract the attention of scientists because of the pronounced reproductive skews, in which only a few males in the population are reproductively successful, while most are not. The existence of such reproductive skews calls into question the stability of lekking and cooperative display, but remains an unresolved phenomenon in behavioral ecology. The primary goal of the proposed research is to elucidate how reproductive strategies of male manakins (Aves: Pipridae) are maintained through time. This goal will be addressed through an intensive, three-year study of the reproductive and social dynamics of a lek-breeding manakin, Pipra filicauda, at a lowland rainforest site in Ecuador. The goals will be achieved by behavioral observations of males at leks to determine the identity of males present and which males cooperate in reproductive displays. In addition, nests of female manakins will be located to obtain blood samples from the chicks to determine paternity (i.e., which male sired the offspring). Information on male relatedness at leks and known paternity of chicks provide evidence of direct and indirect reproductive benefits to males for joining leks. Broader Impacts This study will provide an educational experience for a graduate student and several undergraduate assistants that involve field and laboratory techniques. The project builds and strengthens the international collaboration of the two host institutions, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). Moreover, this project enables host institutions to build interactive learning environments through the integration and training of their undergraduate students in applicable research techniques. The project also aids proactive conservation of the Ecuadorian lowlands by providing basic biological information to USFQ and the biological station Tiputini. Ultimately, this project fills gaps in scientific knowledge while building international collaboration and promoting conservation of Ecuadorian ecosystems.