Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: The Role of Female Mate Choice in Mantled Howling Monkey Reproduction

在国家科学基金会的支持下，这项研究将探索雌性伴侣选择在鸣猴(Alouatta Palliata)中的作用。性选择理论目前正处于范式转变之中。显然，传统上将雌性动物描绘成交配过程中的被动参与者是不正确的，但关于雌性生殖策略，包括雌性选择配偶的程度，仍有许多未知之处。由于雄性试图控制交配，一些研究人员对雌性选择配偶的能力提出了质疑。然而，其他人质疑女性选择的作用，因为女性经常试图与多个男性交配。衣冠猴是研究性选择的这些重要方面的极佳物种。雌性披肩咆哮与多只雄性交配，但据报道，占主导地位的雄性在繁殖力高峰期控制交配。尽管试图进行控制，但最近的分子遗传学数据表明，占主导地位的雄性往往不是其社会群体中后代的父系。行为观察将被用来评估成年雌性披肩咆哮的附属和交配偏好，在哥斯达黎加的哈西恩达·拉·太平洋庄园。将对这些偏好进行测试，以确定它们是否与观察到的交配模式和遗传父子关系模式一致。这项研究的结果将被用来评估雌性套筒咆哮选择配偶的能力以及对雄性生殖成功的影响。这项研究的学术价值体现在女性生殖策略对发展新的性别选择范式和理解女性性行为的重要性上。影响女性交配决定的因素以及女性在面对男性企图控制时进行配偶选择的能力，不仅对女性健康而且对男性健康都有深远的影响。该项目将提供关于男性和女性生殖战略之间相互作用的宝贵信息。除了协助培训研究生外，该项目的更广泛影响还包括通过与哥斯达黎加学生的国际合作和培训，为代表性不足的群体提供机会。此外，该项目将有助于在La Pacillia重新建立研究存在，这是一个研究衣冠咆哮猴子的有价值的地点。

With support from the National Science Foundation, this study will explore the role of female mate choice in mantled howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata). Sexual selection theory is currently in the midst of a paradigm shift. It is clear that the traditional portrayal of female animals as passive participants in mating is incorrect, but much is still unknown about female reproductive strategies, including the extent of female mate choice. Some researchers have questioned the ability of females to exercise mate choice because of attempts by males to control mating. However, others have questioned the role of female choice because females often attempt to mate with multiple males. Mantled howling monkeys represent an excellent species in which to study these important aspects of sexual selection. Female mantled howlers mate with multiple males, but dominant males have been reported to control mating during times of peak fertility. Despite this attempted control, recent molecular genetic data demonstrate that the dominant male is often not the sire of offspring in his social group. Behavioral observations will be used to assess the affiliative and mating preferences of adult female mantled howlers at Hacienda La Pacifica, Costa Rica. These preferences will be tested to determine whether they are consistent with observed patterns of mating and with patterns of genetic paternity. The results of this study will be used to assess the ability of female mantled howlers to exercise mate choice as well as the consequences for male reproductive success. The intellectual merit of this study is demonstrated by the importance of female reproductive strategies to the development of a new sexual selection paradigm and to an understanding of female sexuality. The factors influencing female mating decisions and the ability of females to exercise mate choice in the face of attempted male control have profound consequences not only for female fitness but also for male fitness. This project will provide valuable information regarding this interaction between male and female reproductive strategies. In addition to assisting the training of a graduate student, the broader impacts of this project include providing opportunities for underrepresented groups through international collaboration with and training of Costa Rican students. In addition, the project will help to re-establish a research presence at La Pacifica, a valuable site for the study of mantled howling monkeys.