DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Maintenance of a pterin-based male color polymorphism in Lucania goodei

种群内的颜色多态性为生物学家研究如何维持变异提供了引人注目的例子。翼素是一种由基因决定的色素，人们对翼素引起的多态性知之甚少。本研究研究了雄性蓝鳍鳉鱼（Lucania goodei）中基于翼素的红/黄鳍多态性。L. goodei系统的独特之处在于没有通过性选择与多态性或罕见雄性优势相关的行为类型。然而，在许多种群中，黄鳍的雄鱼比红鳍的雄鱼受寄生的程度要轻。通过设计多态性的遗传标记，本研究将群体遗传学、实验室实验和基因表达分析结合起来，确定红/黄多态性是如何维持的，并更密切地研究免疫与羽翼素产生之间的联系。这项研究不仅解决了进化生物学中如何维持变异的突出问题，而且利用了一种新的基于羽翼素的色素系统来实现这一目标。新开发的RAD标签方法用于开发非模式物种的标记，该项目促进了伊利诺伊大学进化生物学家和俄勒冈大学遗传学家之间的跨大学合作。这项工作将通过包括本科生助理和开发基于这种色素鉴定研究的鱼类学课程的实验室活动来加强本科生培训。

Within-population color polymorphisms provide biologists with eye-catching examples in which to study how variation is maintained. Little is known about polymorphisms caused by pterins, a genetically determined class of pigments. This study examines the pterin-based red/yellow fin polymorphism found in male bluefin killifish Lucania goodei. The L. goodei system is unique in that there are no behavioral types associated with the polymorphism or rare-male advantage via sexual selection. However, in many populations, males with yellow fins are less heavily parasitized than those with red fins. By designing genetic markers for the polymorphism, this study integrates population genetics, laboratory experiments, and gene expression analyses to determine how the red/yellow polymorphism is maintained and to examine more closely the link between immunity and pterin production. This research not only addresses the outstanding question in evolutionary biology of how variation is maintained, but it utilizes a novel pterin-based pigment system to do so. The newly developed RAD tag method is used to develop markers for a non-model species, and the project fosters a cross-university collaboration between evolutionary biologists at the University of Illinois and geneticists at the University of Oregon. The work will enhance undergraduate training by including undergraduate assistants and developing a laboratory activity for an Ichthyology course that is based on this pigment identification research.