Doctoral Dissertation Research: Physiological mechanisms affecting non-human primate mate choice

在许多哺乳动物中，雄性的特征和行为可能会限制雌性对配偶的选择。然而，观察到的配偶选择与实际的父权之间的差异表明，雌性可能通过生理偏好对后代的父权施加影响。本博士论文项目将探讨遗传和生理如何影响灵长类动物的配偶选择，产生灵长类动物生殖生理学的新数据。该项目还将为来自STEM领域代表性不足群体的学生提供实地、实验室、生物信息学和统计方法方面的指导和培训。本研究将探讨橄榄狒狒进行交配后配偶选择的生理机制。该项目将收集雄性和雌性的生殖生理数据。社会行为也将被记录下来，以调查繁殖前和繁殖后选择之间的一致性。这项研究将提高对灵长类动物繁殖后选择机制的理解，并为理解人类独特的生殖和形态特征提供更广泛的灵长类动物比较背景。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In many mammals, male characteristics and behaviors may limit female mate choice. Discrepancies between observed mate choice and actual paternity suggest, however, that females may exert influence over offspring paternity through physiological preference. This doctoral dissertation project will explore how genetics and physiology influence primate mate choice, generating novel data on primate reproductive physiology. The project also will provide mentorship and training in field, laboratory, bioinformatics and statistical methods for students from groups under-represented in STEM fields.This study will explore physiological mechanisms by which olive baboons may exert post-breeding mate choice. The co-PI will collect reproductive physiological data for both males and females. Social behaviors will also be recorded to investigate the concordance between pre- and post-breeding choice. This study will improve understanding of post-breeding mechanisms of choice in primates and inform the broader primate comparative context for understanding the unique suite of reproductive and morphological characteristics seen in humans.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.