Doctoral Dissertation Research: Female mate choice in primates

雄性在许多鸟类和鱼类中表现出的复杂的颜色和交配行为是为了适应雌性配偶的选择而进化而来的，然而，对于哺乳动物的雌性配偶选择知之甚少。这篇博士论文研究了在非人类灵长类动物中，雌性配偶选择的角色潜在的进化压力，以及它对雄性-雄性竞争和生殖成功的影响。通过测量和分析潜在配偶的线索--如气味和颜色--该项目的结果增进了对灵长类动物择偶的生理和行为相关性的了解。该项目支持一名女研究生参加实验室和统计培训。作为该项目的一部分，她与一个保护组织合作，支持濒危灵长类物种的保护，并通过旨在为服务不足的社区提供研究机会的计划，积极指导高中生和本科生。许多灵长类动物生活在多雄多雌的群体中，其中雄性和雌性都与多个伴侣交配(一夫多妻制的交配系统)。在这些交配系统中，雄性有更多的机会竞争繁殖，雌性有更大的空间进行配偶选择。研究物种显示了一套独特的表型和行为特征，这些特征似乎与性选择理论预测的相反，呈现了一个有趣的系统，用来测试现有的关于女性配偶选择和男性-男性竞争的进化模型。该项目通过两个主要目标测试了女性择偶作用背后的选择压力的概念和理论模型：1)表征男性表型的各个方面(如性颜色、皮腺的化学特征、优势等级)；2)通过测量女性偏好预测男性生殖成功的程度来评估女性择偶的作用。这是通过将行为数据与创新的生物采样技术相结合来实现的。除了为研究物种产生的新数据外，通过深入询问灵长类动物配偶选择的多个组成部分，这项研究为更广泛地研究哺乳动物配偶选择的演变提供了有价值的比较信息。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The elaborate colors and mating behaviors exhibited by males in many species of birds and fish evolved as adaptations for female mate choice, however, comparatively little is known about female mate choice in mammals. This doctoral dissertation research project examines the evolutionary pressures underlying the role of female mate choice and its implications for male-male competition and reproductive success in a non-human primate. Through measurement and analysis of cues to potential mates – such as scent and color – the results of this project advance knowledge about the physiological and behavioral correlates of mate choice in primates. This project supports a female graduate student in laboratory and statistical training. As part of this project, she collaborates with a conservation organization to support the conservation of endangered primate species, and actively mentors high school and undergraduate students through programs which aim to provide research opportunities to underserved communities. Many primates live in multi-male multi-female groups in which both males and females mate with multiple partners (a polygynandrous mating system). In these mating systems, there are increased opportunities for males to compete over reproduction, and increased scope for females to exert mate choice. The study species displays a unique suite of phenotypic and behavioral traits that appear contrary to those predicted by sexual selection theory, presenting an interesting system in which to test existing evolutionary models regarding female mate choice and male-male competition. This project tests conceptual and theoretical models of the selective pressures underlying the role of female mate choice through two primary objectives: 1) characterization of aspects of male phenotypes (i.e., sexual coloration, chemical profiles of cutaneous glands, dominance rank); and 2) assessment the role of female mate choice by measuring the extent to which female preferences predict male reproductive success. This is achieved by combining behavioral data with innovative biological sampling techniques. In addition to the novel data generated for the study species, through deep interrogation of multiple components of mate choice in a primate this research provides valuable comparative information for the broader study of the evolution of mate choice in mammals.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.