Doctoral Dissertation Research: Female mate choice in primates

在许多鸟类和鱼类中，雄性表现出的精致的颜色和交配行为是为了适应雌性的配偶选择而进化的，然而，对哺乳动物中雌性的配偶选择知之甚少。本博士论文研究项目探讨了非人类灵长类动物中女性择偶的进化压力及其对雄性竞争和繁殖成功的影响。通过测量和分析潜在配偶的线索——比如气味和颜色——这个项目的结果促进了对灵长类动物择偶的生理和行为相关知识的了解。本项目资助一名女研究生进行实验和统计训练。作为该项目的一部分，她与一个保护组织合作，支持濒危灵长类动物物种的保护，并积极指导高中生和本科生通过旨在为服务不足的社区提供研究机会的项目。许多灵长类动物生活在多雄性多雌性的群体中，雄性和雌性都与多个伴侣交配（一夫多妻制的交配制度）。在这些交配系统中，雄性为繁殖而竞争的机会增加了，雌性也有了更多的选择配偶的余地。研究物种显示出一套独特的表型和行为特征，似乎与性选择理论所预测的相反，提供了一个有趣的系统来测试现有的关于雌性配偶选择和雄性之间竞争的进化模型。该项目通过两个主要目标来测试选择压力的概念和理论模型，这些选择压力隐藏在雌性配偶选择的作用之下：1)雄性表型方面的特征（即性着色、皮肤腺体的化学特征、优势等级）；2)通过测量雌性偏好预测雄性繁殖成功的程度来评估雌性配偶选择的作用。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，通过对灵长类动物配偶选择的多个组成部分的深入研究，本研究为哺乳动物配偶选择进化的更广泛研究提供了有价值的比较信息。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。

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.