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

051334 Loiselle美国计划下的学位论文增强奖将支持密苏里大学圣路易斯分校Tori Wendy女士在Bette A.Loiselle博士的指导下进行的实地研究。她在厄瓜多尔的合作者将是旧金山基多大学的凯利·斯温博士。该项目将解决的问题是，是什么让某些男性对女性如此有吸引力，并取得了丰硕的成功。将使用的模型系统将是嬉戏物种的白冠山雀(Pipra Pipra)。生殖成功将通过LEKS的行为观察以及直接使用微卫星亲子分析来间接衡量。生态、行为和遗传因素对男性生殖成功结果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。了解决定女性配偶选择和男性生殖成功的因素是性选择理论的核心。择偶是一个复杂的问题，因为它往往是直接(如父系照料、领地质量)和间接利益(如良好基因)对雌性的相互作用的结果。Lek交配系统为研究这些过程提供了一个独特的机会。此外，该项目还将加强美国机构和主办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.