DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Characterization of MHC-dependent Mate Choice in Satin Bowerbirds

主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）是一个基因家族，其蛋白质产物识别病原体以启动免疫应答。MHC的遗传变异也可能受到诸如配偶选择等因素的影响，这已经在几种脊椎动物物种中进行了测试，结果不一。本研究测试MHC依赖的配偶选择缎园丁鸟（Ptilonorhynchus violaceus）使用独特的，现有的行为数据集。这个数据集包括一个非常大的样本观察女性参加bowers和选择男性交配，从每只鸟的血液样本。将应用分子技术评估多个基因的MHC多样性。MHC多样性将在接受和拒绝的女性和男性之间进行比较。这项工作的结果将为广泛的学科提供信息，包括疾病和行为生态学，以及进化和保护生物学。研究影响抗病性的因素与人类公共卫生和自然资源保护主义者有关，因为疾病影响了许多野生鸟类种群。此外，该提案将研究性选择如何影响性状进化。园丁鸟很有魅力，DNA、进化和配偶选择的相互作用将引起公众的强烈兴趣，并将被纳入国家动物园的公共项目。

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a gene family whose protein products identify pathogens for initiation of the immune response. Genetic variation of the MHC may also be influenced by factors such as mate choice, which has been tested in several vertebrate species with mixed results. This research tests for MHC-dependent mate choice in satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) using a unique, existing behavioral dataset. This dataset includes a very large sample of observations of females attending bowers and selecting males for mating, and blood samples from each bird. A molecular technique will be applied that assesses MHC diversity at multiple genes. MHC diversity will be compared among females and males that are accepted and rejected.Results from this work will inform a wide range of disciplines, including disease and behavioral ecology, and evolutionary and conservation biology. The study of factors that influence disease resistance is relevant to human public health and to conservationists, as diseases have affected many wild avian populations. In addition, this proposal will examine how sexual selection affects trait evolution. The bowerbirds are charismatic, and the interplay of DNA, evolution and mate choice will make this of strong interest to the public, and will be incorporated into public programs at the National Zoo.