Evolution of neural substrates mediating reproductive decisions

介导生殖决定的神经基质的进化

• 批准号: 0940466
• 负责人: Kim Hoke
• 金额: $ 22.12万
• 依托单位: Colorado State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-04-01 至 2011-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0940466&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Evolution; neural; substrates; mediating; reproductive

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.

生殖行为的差异可以阻止种群间的杂交，从而促进新物种的形成（物种形成）。大脑中的差异如何导致行为分歧和物种形成？该项目结合了功能神经解剖学，遗传学和行为实验来研究大脑中的差异，这些差异可能导致单一物种中不同种群之间的交配决定。研究人员将专注于一种青蛙，Physalaemus petersi的内部变异。这些实验将测试两个种群中的雌性P.petersi使用哪些感官线索来做出不同的交配决定，并确定哪些大脑区域的功能不同导致这些行为差异。该提议是一种新的尝试，旨在理解有关自然决策的神经机制的基本问题。拟议的工作将采取重大步骤，将大脑的进化与行为差异联系起来，通过促进种群之间的生殖隔离，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加该项目，并接受神经科学，行为和实地实验的培训。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研究的实验室方面。