DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Testing the role of red carotenoid coloration in copepod mate choice

论文研究：测试红色类胡萝卜素着色在桡足类配偶选择中的作用

• 批准号: 1701827
• 负责人: Geoffrey Hill
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: Auburn University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-06-01 至 2020-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1701827&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Testing; role; red

Red colors are among the most widespread forms of animal signals. On one hand, the red coloration may be assessed by potential partners during mate-choice, where individuals with the brightest red color are more likely to be chosen as a mate. Evidence supports this idea in animals such as birds and fish. On the other hand, some research has found that red color may have a physiological function, for example, acting as a sunscreen that offers protection from potentially damaging solar radiation. This project uses copepods, tiny shrimp-like animals with bright red colors, to test whether to examine if red copepod color is (1) a signal of mate quality, (2) a sunscreen, or (3) both a signal of quality and a sunscreen. The results of this research will advance the basic understanding of animal coloration in group of animals that has not been well studied. In addition, the researchers will use this study system to bring science training to Alabama children in fourth through sixth grade. Working through a well-structured program--Getting Under The Surface (GUTS)--teams of parents and children from some of the most science-deficient school systems in the U.S. will be invited to half-day programs run by faculty. Two programs will be run involving the same student/parent teams. The bright red copepod system is ideal for capturing the attention of younger students while offering opportunities for training with microscopes and basic experimental design. Red carotenoid coloration is a widespread form of ornamentation in animals and extensive empirical data show that red coloration is an honest signal of individual quality and performance. However, the most popular vertebrate systems that clearly demonstrate selection for red carotenoid coloration via mate choice are not suitable for the physiological experiments needed to advance the field. The project focuses on physiological constraints on the production of red carotenoids in animals, using Tigriopus copepods as a model. The researchers use diet manipulations to vary carotenoid coloration and to test whether red colors in copepods are used as a visual signal in male and female mate choice, or whether red coloration acts as a protectant against UV radiation. This behavioral research will create a critical context for interpreting physiological research on carotenoid color production and enable better of understanding red coloration in copepods in particular and animals in general.

红色是动物信号中最普遍的形式之一。一方面，红色可能会在择偶过程中被潜在的伴侣评估，其中具有最明亮的红色的个体更有可能被选为伴侣。在鸟类和鱼类等动物中有证据支持这一观点。另一方面，一些研究发现，红色可能具有生理功能，例如，作为防晒霜，提供保护，免受潜在的破坏性太阳辐射。该项目使用桡足类动物（一种具有鲜红色的微小虾状动物）来测试红色桡足类动物的颜色是否是（1）交配质量的信号，（2）防晒霜，或（3）既是质量信号又是防晒霜。这项研究的结果将促进对动物群体中尚未得到很好研究的动物着色的基本认识。此外，研究人员还将利用这一学习系统为亚拉巴马四到六年级的孩子们带来科学训练。通过一个结构良好的项目--"深入地表“（GUTS）--来自美国一些最缺乏科学的学校系统的家长和孩子团队将被邀请参加由教师举办的半天项目。两个程序将运行涉及相同的学生/家长团队。明亮的红色桡足类系统非常适合吸引年轻学生的注意力，同时提供显微镜和基本实验设计培训的机会。红色类胡萝卜素着色是动物中广泛存在的一种表现形式，大量的经验数据表明，红色着色是个体素质和表现的真实信号。然而，最流行的脊椎动物系统，清楚地表明选择红色类胡萝卜素着色通过配偶选择是不适合的生理实验需要推进该领域。该项目的重点是生理限制生产红色类胡萝卜素的动物，使用Tigriopus桡足类动物作为模型。研究人员使用饮食操作来改变类胡萝卜素的颜色，并测试桡足类动物的红色是否被用作雄性和雌性配偶选择的视觉信号，或者红色是否作为抗紫外线辐射的保护剂。这种行为研究将为解释类胡萝卜素颜色产生的生理学研究创造一个关键的背景，并使更好地理解特别是桡足类和一般动物的红色着色。

项目成果

An in vivo test of the biologically relevant roles of carotenoids as antioxidants in animals

类胡萝卜素作为动物抗氧化剂的生物学相关作用的体内测试

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.183665
• 发表时间: 2018
• 期刊: The Journal of Experimental Biology
• 作者: Weaver, Ryan J.;Wang, Philip;Hill, Geoffrey E.;Cobine, Paul A.
• 通讯作者: Cobine, Paul A.

An experimental test of mate choice for red carotenoid coloration in the marine copepod Tigriopus californicus

• DOI: 10.1111/eth.12976
• 发表时间: 2020-03
• 期刊: Ethology
• 影响因子: 1.7
• 作者: M. Powers;G. Hill;R. Weaver