U.S.-Ecuador Dissertation Enhancement: Female Mate Choice and Mating Success in Pipra Pipra (Aves: Pipridae)

051334Loiselle美洲计划下的这一论文增强奖将支持密苏里大学圣路易斯分校的Tori Wendy女士在Bette A. Loiselle 她在厄瓜多尔的合作者将是基多圣弗朗西斯科大学的凯利·斯温博士。 该项目将解决的问题是什么使某些男性如此吸引女性和生产力的成功。 将使用的模型系统是lekking物种的白冠侏儒鸟（Pipra pipra）。 繁殖成功将通过在leks的行为观察间接测量，以及直接使用微卫星亲子分析。 生态、行为和遗传因素对雄性生殖成功的影响将根据可能的权衡或变量之间的相互作用进行分析。了解是什么决定了雌性的配偶选择和雄性的生殖成功是性选择理论的核心。 配偶选择是一个复杂的问题，因为它往往是直接（如父亲的照顾，领土质量）和间接利益（如良好的基因）相互作用的结果。 Lek配对系统为研究这些过程提供了独特的机会。 此外，该项目将加强美国机构与东道机构之间的合作关系。

051334LoiselleThis dissertation enhancement award under the Americas Program will support the field research of Ms. Tori Wendy, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, under the supervision of Dr. Bette A. Loiselle. Her collaborator in Ecuador will be Dr. Kelly Swing at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. The project will address the question of what makes certain males so attractive to females and productively successful. The model system to be used will be the white-crowned manakin (Pipra pipra), of the lekking species. Reproductive success will be measured indirectly using behavioral observations at leks as well as directly using microsatellite paternity analysis. The influence of ecological, behavioral and genetic factors on the outcome of male reproductive success will be analyzed in light of possible tradeoffs or interaction among variables.Understanding what determines female mate choice and male reproductive success is central to sexual selection theory. Mate choice is a complex issue as it is often the result of interplay of direct (e.g. paternal care, territory quality) and indirect benefits (e.g. good genes) to females. Lek-mating systems provide a unique opportunity to study these processes. In addition, this project will strengthen the collaborative relationship between the U.S. institution and the host institution.