RUI: A theoretical and empirical investigation of optimal mating strategies in a hermaphrodite

RUI：雌雄同体最佳交配策略的理论和实证研究

• 批准号: 1406231
• 负责人: Joshua Auld
• 金额: $ 21.39万
• 依托单位: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2019-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1406231&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; theoretical; empirical; investigation; optimal

How and why organisms allocate resources to different functions such as growth, maintenance and reproduction is a fundamental aspect of their biology. Understanding patterns of allocation addresses fundamental questions about the evolution of a wide variety of plants and animals. The way that organisms mate with each other (their mating system) is often related to the way they allocate resources. For example, in species where a single male mates with multiple females, males may express particular traits that increase their chance of successfully obtaining a mate. In some species, such as freshwater snails, individuals are male and female at the same time, and therefore have the option to self-fertilize if no mates are available. Previous research has resulted in a predictive theory that relates the way organisms mate (with/without a partner) to how they grow and when they become mature. In this three-year interdisciplinary research project, this theory with be extended and tested using a combination of mathematical modeling and experimental tests using snails. The project will also promote cross-disciplinary education of diverse undergraduate students and high school teachers. There is a close relationship between the expression and evolution of the mating system and other life-history traits. Individuals of many species may be able to alter their allocation of resources based on the availability of mating partners, and the pattern of mating itself can affect when individuals initiate reproduction and how much they allocate to gamete production and mate attraction. A particular example of this is revealed by simultaneous hermaphrodites that can reproduce by self-fertilization or outcrossing: Individuals that prefer to outcross may delay the initiation of reproduction if mates are not available. In this project, the researchers will develop a series of mathematical models to explore the role that a variety of realistic yet complicated environmental factors play in determining life-history expression and evolution. They will explore the consequences of (1) demographic stochasticity, (2) inducible defenses, and (3) spatial structure on the expression and evolution of optimal life-history strategies. Each model will be paired with an empirical test using a well-developed experimental system (freshwater snails) that will allow a test of the model results. Collectively, the project will improve the predictive and explanatory power of how individual life-history strategies and the mating system interact.

生物体如何以及为什么将资源分配给不同的功能，如生长、维持和繁殖，是其生物学的一个基本方面。对资源分配模式的理解解决了有关各种动植物进化的基本问题。生物体相互交配的方式（它们的交配系统）通常与它们分配资源的方式有关。例如，在单个雄性与多个雌性交配的物种中，雄性可能会表现出特定的特征，以增加它们成功获得配偶的机会。在一些物种中，比如淡水蜗牛，个体同时是雄性和雌性，因此在没有配偶的情况下可以选择自我受精。之前的研究已经产生了一种预测理论，将生物体的交配方式（有/没有伴侣）与它们的生长方式和成熟时间联系起来。在这个为期三年的跨学科研究项目中，将采用数学建模和蜗牛实验相结合的方法对这一理论进行扩展和检验。该项目还将促进多元化本科生和高中教师的跨学科教育。交配制度的表达和进化与其他生活史特征有着密切的关系。许多物种的个体可能会根据配偶的可用性来改变资源的分配，而交配模式本身也会影响个体何时开始繁殖，以及它们分配给配子生产和吸引配偶的数量。这方面的一个特殊例子是同时发生的雌雄同体，它们可以通过自花受精或异交繁殖：如果没有配偶，倾向于异交的个体可能会推迟繁殖的开始。在这个项目中，研究人员将开发一系列数学模型来探索各种现实而复杂的环境因素在决定生命史表达和进化中的作用。他们将探讨(1)人口随机性，(2)诱导防御，(3)空间结构对最优生活史策略表达和进化的影响。每个模型都将与使用一个完善的实验系统（淡水蜗牛）的经验测试配对，该实验系统将允许对模型结果进行测试。总的来说，该项目将提高个体生活史策略和交配系统如何相互作用的预测和解释能力。