Collaborative Research: Behavioral and Genetic Mechanisms for Frequency-Dependent Survival and Mating Advantage in Guppies

GuppiesIOB-0743990 Anne Houde频率依赖生存和交配优势的行为和遗传机制在基因组时代，越来越明显的是，与生物(包括人类)的健康、长寿和生育有关的大多数性状都受到遗传变异(多态)的影响。尽管人们对定位和表征负责基因非常感兴趣，但负责维持遗传变异的过程通常是未知的。其中一个原因是，直接的实验研究在人类身上是不可能的，在大多数模型生物中也是困难和昂贵的。为了解决这个问题，需要更多可在自然和实验室环境中进行研究的易驯化物种。野生孔雀鱼在动物中表现出最显著的多态现象(雄性颜色模式变化)，被认为是通过稀有或不常见的颜色类型的交配和生存优势来维持的。交配优势表现为雌性对不寻常雄性的性反应，生存优势表现为对常见颜色类型的选择性捕食。这个项目将阐明这些模式背后的行为和遗传机制。研究将检查(1)导致稀有类型交配优势的行为机制，(2)捕食性剑鱼对稀有类型与普通类型的行为反应，以及(3)孔雀鱼对新为性和环境刺激做出反应时发生的脑基因表达变化。具体的结果包括确定(1)雌性孔雀鱼是否对稀有的雄性类型有特定的偏好，(2)先前对颜色类型的经验是否影响捕食者的行为，以及(3)哪些基因改变了它们对新刺激的表达水平。这项工作将为行为和遗传过程如何促进遗传变异提供一个清晰的图景，并将提供一个模型系统，用于理解作为一种普遍现象的对新奇事物的反应。该项目的更广泛影响将包括对本科生和研究生的培训，以及进一步发展孔雀鱼模式系统，作为广泛理解进化论的著名范例。

Behavioral and Genetic Mechanisms for Frequency-Dependent Survival and Mating Advantage in GuppiesIOB-0743990Anne Houde In the genomic era, it has become increasingly obvious that most traits that are relevant to the health, longevity, and fertility of organisms (including humans) are influenced by genetic variation (polymorphism). Despite intense interest in mapping and characterizing the responsible genes, the processes responsible for maintaining genetic variation are generally unknown. One reason is that direct experimental investigations are impossible in humans and difficult and expensive in most model organisms. More tractable species that can be studied in both natural and laboratory settings are needed to address this question. Wild guppies exhibit one of the most striking examples of polymorphism among animals (male color pattern variation), thought to be maintained by mating and survival advantages to rare or uncommon color types. Mating advantage appears result from female sexual responses to unusual males, and survival advantage appears to result from selective predation on common color types. This project will elucidate behavioral and genetic mechanisms underlying these patterns. Studies will examine (1) behavioral mechanisms leading to mating advantage for rare types, (2) behavioral responses of a predatory killifish to rare vs. common types and (3) brain gene expression changes that occur when guppies respond to novel sexual and environmental stimuli. Specific outcomes include determining (1) if female guppies have a specific preference for rare male types, (2) if prior experience with color types affects the predator's behavior and (3) which genes change their levels of expression in response to novel stimuli. This work will provide a clear picture of how behavioral and genetic processes contribute to genetic variation, and will also provide a model system for understanding response to novelty as a general phenomenon. Broader impacts of the project will include training of undergraduate and graduate students and further development of the guppy model system as a well-known exemplar for broad understanding of evolution.