DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Relationship between diverse male coloration and speciation in darters

对男性和女性不同生殖成功的选择(性选择)与物种形成有关，因为它推动了男性特征和女性对该特征的偏好的差异。然而，这一过程不应适用于通过男性-男性竞争而不是女性偏好选择的特征的多样化。然而，如果涉及到物种识别，这些特征可能会促进物种形成，如果物种之间的交配是不利的(即，加强了对杂交的抵抗力)，则会受到青睐。这个项目调查了橙色和彩虹飞镖，这是一种具有不同和独特的雄性繁殖色彩的特殊鱼类支系的代表。在这两种情况下，男性之间的竞争影响他们的生殖成功，而女性的偏好不会。这项研究将包括(1)偏好实验，以测试雄性着色是否调节物种识别，(2)实地调查，以检查导致雄性颜色多样化的因素，以及(3)育种设计，以衡量杂交不活力，从而增强的潜力。该项目将阐明物种形成和雄性竞争之间鲜为人知的关系，这是性别选择的一个主要方面。此外，还将有机会通过参与涉及本地水生动物的公共推广活动来进行科学教育，因为飞镖鱼成为具有吸引力和可接近的主题，用于教授生态学、进化和保护。最后，这个项目将指导本科生进化概念和科学探究的过程。

Selection on differential reproductive success of males and females (sexual selection) has been linked to speciation by driving divergence in both a male trait and the female preference for that trait. However, this process should not apply to the diversification of traits selected via male-male competition rather than female preference. Such traits may nevertheless facilitate speciation if involved in species recognition, and be favored if mating among species is disadvantageous (i.e., reinforcement against hybridization). This project investigates orangethroat and rainbow darters, representatives of a speciose fish clade with diverse and distinctive male breeding coloration. In both, competition between males affects their reproductive success while female preference does not. The research will incorporate (1) preference experiments to test whether male coloration mediates species recognition, (2) field surveys to examine the factors underlying male color diversification, and (3) a breeding design to measure hybrid inviability and thus the potential for reinforcement.This project will elucidate the poorly understood relationship between speciation and male-male competition, a major aspect of sexual selection. Additionally, there will be opportunities for science education through participation in public outreach events involving native aquatic fauna, as darters make attractive and accessible subjects for teaching about ecology, evolution, and conservation. Finally, this project will mentor undergraduates in evolutionary concepts and the process of scientific inquiry.