DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Mating Conflict and Its Resolution in a Female-Specific Color Polymorphic Damselfly

在自然界中，两性之间的关系往往很不和谐。例如，由于精子的生产成本通常比卵子要低，因此男性往往比女性更愿意交配，从而导致在交配决定上的性冲突。迄今为止，相当多的研究证明了男性性骚扰如何对女性的健康产生负面影响。然而，我们对女性的抗骚扰特征如何影响男性的适应性知之甚少。本文研究了一种豆娘的雄性是亮蓝色的，而雌性可能是类似雄性的蓝色（即雄性的“模仿者”）或雌性特有的绿色，在性冲突中雄性的作用。拟议中的实验测量了雄性在有蓝色雌性在场的情况下犯交配错误的代价。这项研究将是首次尝试在自然栖息地测量雌性特征对雄性的适合度影响。Co-PI还建议为男性交配骚扰的经济（即成本和收益）建立一个计算机模型，从而解决了一个基本的，但被忽视的问题，即何时男性骚扰女性在经济上是最优的。该模型将本论文的研究结果推广到更广泛的背景下，其预测适用于更广泛的动物。本论文的研究为STEM本科学生提供了实地工作经验。该研究将通过专为英语写作学生设计的讲座呈现给非stem学生。她还计划制作一部芭蕾舞剧，以外行人友好的形式展示她的论文研究背后的科学。这部芭蕾舞剧的制作将是对将艺术作为科学教育和K-12学生拓展活动的另一种工具的探索。

In nature, the relationship between the two genders is often far from harmonious. For example, because sperm are generally cheaper to produce than eggs, males tend to want to mate more often than females do, resulting in sexual conflict over mating decisions. To date, considerable research has documented how male sexual harassment negatively affects female fitness. However, we know very little about how anti-harassment traits of female affect male fitness. The dissertation research investigates the role of males in sexual conflict in a damselfly whose males are bright blue, but whose females may be either a male-like blue (i.e. a male "mimic") or female-specific green. The proposed experiment measures the cost of males making mating mistakes in the presence of blue females. This study will be among the first attempts to measure the fitness effect of female traits on males in a natural habitat. The Co-PI also proposes to build a computer model for the economy (i.e., costs and benefits) of male mating harassment, and hence, addresses the fundamental, yet neglected question of when is it economically optimal for a male to harass a female. This model generalizes the findings from this dissertation research to a more general context, and its predictions are applicable to a broader range of animals. The dissertation research has provided fieldwork experience for STEM undergraduate students. The research will be presented and involve non-STEM students through lectures designed for English Composition students. The Co-PI also plans to develop a ballet to demonstrate science behind her dissertation research in a layman-friendly form. The making of this ballet will be an exploration of using art as an alternative tool in science education, and in outreach activities for K-12 students.