RUI - An integrative study of covariances between behavioral and morphological life-history traits

权衡是进化生物学中的一个关键概念：当资源有限时，生物体必须有策略地将资源分配给不同的功能。因此，对一个性状的投资越高，对其他性状的投资就越低，最优分配策略会因环境而异。大多数关于进化权衡的研究要么关注导致不同策略的机制，要么关注它们的适应性后果，而不是整合这两个问题。这个项目的目标是调查的原因和后果的权衡使用豆甲虫，Callosobruchus maculatus。研究人员和两名本科生研究人员先前的一项研究表明，青少年之间的资源竞争导致成年人翅膀大小和繁殖之间的权衡。该项目将探讨激素在发育过程中的作用，以确定成年分配策略到翅膀与繁殖，以及资源分配对免疫力的影响。这些权衡的后果也将通过测量具有不同行为策略的个体的进化适应性来研究。除了对我们理解生活史权衡做出重大贡献外，该项目还将通过招募和培训来自代表性不足群体的本科研究人员，为更加多样化的STEM劳动力做出贡献：该项目将完全由本科研究人员在研究人员的监督下进行。此外，本计画亦将借由发展以探究为基础的实验室实验，促进教学与研究的整合。maculatus参加动物行为课程。这种课堂研究经验将作为本科生参与课堂外研究的管道。权衡是生活史理论的一个核心概念，由于生物体内的差异特征投资而产生，并导致特征之间的负协方差。要充分理解为什么会发生权衡，需要整合它们的近似机制和适应性后果。在Callosobruchus maculatus，幼虫密度诱导不同的资源分配：高密度的结果，在发展中的分散变形与大，功能的翅膀，而不是短翅flightless变形，低密度下发展。研究人员和两名本科生合作者先前的一项研究显示，高密度个体发育出更大的翅膀和更小的性腺，幼虫密度也影响了两性的一系列交配行为。该项目将调查保幼激素在这些权衡中所涉及的发展机制中的作用，以及性别差异和免疫资源分配如何影响整体资源分配。最终的解释也将通过测量性腺和交配行为，如求偶和产卵strategy.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命的差异分配的健身效果进行调查，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Trade-offs are a key concept in evolutionary biology: when resources are limited, organisms must strategically allocate resources to different functions. As a result, higher investment in one trait results in lower investment in others, and the optimal allocation strategy can vary with the environment. Most studies on evolutionary trade-offs focus either on the mechanisms that result in different strategies or in their fitness consequences, rather than integrating these two questions. The goal of this project is to investigate both causes and consequences of trade-offs using the bean beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. A previous study by the investigator and two undergraduate researchers revealed that resource competition between juveniles leads to trade-offs between wing size and reproduction in adults. This project will explore the role of hormones during development in determining adult allocation strategies into wings versus reproduction, as well as the effects of resource allocation to immunity. Consequences of these trade-offs will also be investigated by measuring the evolutionary fitness of individuals with different behavioral strategies. In addition to making significant contributions to our understanding of life-history trade-offs, this project will contribute to a more diverse STEM workforce through the recruitment and training of undergraduate researchers from underrepresented groups: This project will be entirely conducted by undergraduate researchers under the investigator’s supervision. Additionally, this project will promote the integration of teaching and research through the development of inquiry-based laboratory experiments with C. maculatus for an Animal Behavior course. This classroom research experience will serve as a pipeline for undergraduates to get involved in research outside the classroom. Trade-offs are a central concept to life-history theory, arising due to differential trait investment within an organism and resulting in negative covariances between traits. A full understanding of why trade-offs occur requires the integration of their proximate mechanisms and fitness consequences. In Callosobruchus maculatus, larval density induces differential resource allocation: High density results in the development of dispersal morphs with large, functional wings, as opposed to the short-winged flightless morphs that develop under low densities. A previous study by the investigator and two undergraduate collaborators revealed that high-density individuals develop larger wings and smaller gonads, and larval density also affected a suite of mating behaviors in both sexes. This project will investigate the role of Juvenile Hormone in the developmental mechanisms involved in these trade-offs, as well as how sex differences and resource allocation to immunity affect overall resource allocation. The ultimate explanations will also be investigated by measuring fitness effects of differential allocation to gonads and mating behaviors such as courtship and oviposition strategies.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.