Dissertation Research: The Role of the MHC in Pre- and Post-Copulatory Mate Choice by Female Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

雌性动物在选择配偶时依赖于有关大量雄性特征的信息。雌性可能在交配前或交配后做出择偶决定。如果一只雌性与多只雄性交配，她可能会表现出神秘的雌性选择，这被定义为一种能力，即雌性根据特定的偏好特征，对某些雄性的受精成功进行偏见。在某些情况下，雌性根据他的基因组成来选择配偶，以便为她们的后代获得有利的基因。本研究将探讨主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)在雌性孔雀鱼择偶决策中的作用。MHC是一组与免疫有关的基因；雌性应该选择MHC更多样化的雄性，因为她的后代将配备更广泛的工具来对抗感染。这项研究将同时使用行为和分子方法，测试神秘的雌性选择，以及雌性孔雀鱼是否将雄性的MHC多样性作为配偶选择的基础。这一综合性研究将有助于免疫学、生殖生理学、亲属歧视和行为生态学等多个科学领域的研究。特别是，保护生物学领域将特别受益于这项研究，特别是当它与其他物种的繁殖有关时。由于许多濒危物种的生存依赖于成功的繁殖，因此受精后生殖过程的知识将是产生繁殖成功的关键。最后，这项研究还纳入了教育因素。一名女本科生已经参与了这项研究，并计划吸收更多的本科生和高中生。国际动物保护协会和联合动物保护协会将在2007年秋季国际动物保护协会教授这门课程时，根据拟议的研究设计一个动物行为实验室，从而将研究和教育结合起来。

Female animals rely on information regarding numerous male traits when choosing a mate. Females may make mate choice decisions prior to copulation, or following copulation. If a female mates with multiple males, she may exhibit cryptic female choice, which is defined as the ability of a female to bias the fertilization success of certain males over others based on particular preferred traits. In some cases, females choose a mate based on his genetic make-up in order to acquire favorable genes for their offspring. This study will investigate the role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in mate choice decisions by female guppies (Poecilia reticulata). The MHC is a set of genes involved in immunity; a female should choose a male with a more diverse MHC because her offspring will be equipped with a broader spectrum of tools with which to combat infection. Using both a behavioral and molecular approach, this study will test for cryptic female choice and whether female guppies use MHC diversity in males as a basis for mate choice. This integrative study will contribute to multiple scientific fields, including immunology, reproductive physiology, kin discrimination and behavioral ecology. In particular, the field of conservation biology will especially benefit from this study, especially as it relates to reproduction in other species. As survival for many endangered species depends on successful breeding, knowledge of reproductive processes following fertilization will be critical to engendering reproductive success. Finally, this study also incorporates an educational component. One female undergraduate student has already participated in the research, and plans are underway to incorporate additional undergraduates, as well as high school students. The PI and co-PI will integrate research and education by designing an Animal Behavior laboratory based on the proposed research when the PI teaches the course in fall 2007.