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

051334Loiselle 美洲计划下的这项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 博士的监督下进行的实地研究。 她在厄瓜多尔的合作者将是旧金山基多大学的 Kelly Swing 博士。 该项目将解决是什么让某些男性对女性如此有吸引力并取得成功。 所使用的模型系统将是白冠侏儒鸟 (Pipra pipra)，属于 lekking 物种。 将使用 leks 的行为观察以及直接使用微卫星亲子关系分析来间接衡量繁殖成功率。 将根据变量之间可能的权衡或相互作用来分析生态、行为和遗传因素对雄性繁殖成功结果的影响。了解决定雌性择偶和雄性繁殖成功的因素是性选择理论的核心。 配偶选择是一个复杂的问题，因为它通常是女性直接利益（例如父亲照顾、领地质量）和间接利益（例如良好基因）相互作用的结果。 Lek 配对系统提供了研究这些过程的独特机会。 此外，该项目将加强美国机构与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.