Evolution of neural substrates mediating reproductive decisions

生殖行为的差异可以阻止种群之间的杂交，从而促进新物种(物种形成)的形成。大脑中的差异是如何导致行为差异和物种形成的？该项目结合了功能神经解剖学、遗传学和行为实验，研究大脑中可能导致单一物种种群之间不同交配决定的差异。研究人员将专注于一种青蛙物种的变异，这种青蛙叫Physalaemus petersi。这些实验将测试两个种群的彼得斯松鼠的雌性在做出不同的交配决定时使用了哪些感官线索，并确定导致这些行为差异的大脑区域的不同功能。这项提议是理解有关自然决策的神经机制的基本问题的一种新尝试。这项拟议的工作将在将大脑进化与行为差异联系起来方面迈出重要的一步，通过促进种群之间的生殖隔离，行为差异可能有助于物种形成。拟议的工作将包括许多培训机会。四名美国本科生和四名厄瓜多尔本科生将参与该项目，并接受神经科学、行为和实地实验方面的培训。其中一名厄瓜多尔学生将在美国度过一个学期，与研究人员和美国本科生一起体验神经行为学实验室方面的研究。

Differences in reproductive behaviors can prevent interbreeding between populations, thereby promoting the formation of new species (speciation). How do differences in the brain contribute to behavioral divergence and speciation? This project combines functional neuroanatomy, genetics, and behavioral experiments to study differences in the brain that may lead to different mating decisions between populations in a single species. The researcher will focus on variation within a species of a frog, Physalaemus petersi. The experiments will test which sensory cues the females in the two populations of P. petersi are using to make their divergent mating decisions, and identify which brain regions function differently to cause these behavioral differences. The proposal is a novel attempt to understand fundamental questions about the neural mechanisms of natural decisions. The proposed work will take significant steps in linking evolution of the brain to the behavioral differences that, by promoting reproductive isolation between populations, may contribute to speciation. The proposed work will include numerous opportunities for training. Four US undergraduates and four Ecuadorian undergraduates will participate in the project and receive training in neuroscience, behavior, and field experiments. One of the Ecuadorian students will spend a semester in the US working with the researcher and the US undergraduates to experience the laboratory side of research in neuroethology.