Sex pheromones in Neotropical tree frogs (Hylidae) - Insights into an under-studied communication mode in anurans

新热带树蛙（Hylidae）中的性信息素 - 深入研究无尾目动物的交流模式

• 批准号: 275815364
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Lisa Maria Schulte
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Unit of Ecology & Systematics
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Fellowships
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2014-12-31 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/275815364?language=en
• 关键词: Sex; pheromones; Neotropical; tree; frogs

Chemical communication is the evolutionary oldest communication system in the animal kingdom and it is especially important for the sexual behaviour in many species. Compared to other animals, studies regarding pheromones in anurans are extremely scarce, although many anuran species possess breeding glands which are suggested to contain sex pheromones. On the example of five Neotropical tree frog species that exhibit male breeding glands in different regions of the body, I want to investigate the use of sex pheromones in this worldwide biggest frog family (Hylidae). For this purpose I plan to 1) sample these frogs in their native habitats in Mexico and Peru, 2) histologically examine their breeding glands and visualize them in 3D-models, 3) isolate and identify the pheromonal gland contents using genetical and chemical methods (next generation sequencing and HPLC) and 4) test the significance of the sex pheromones during courtship in behavioural assays in the field. With this study I plan to expand the so far very restricted knowledge of the usage and structure of courtship pheromones in anurans. A comparison of the pheromones between the different species and genera within the same family as well as with so far identified chemical compounds of other amphibian species (especially salamanders) might lead to a further understanding of the evolution of courtship pheromones in amphibians generally and in anurans in particular.

化学通信是动物王国中进化最古老的通信系统，它对许多物种的性行为尤为重要。与其他动物相比，关于无尾动物信息素的研究非常少，尽管许多无尾动物都有被认为含有性信息素的繁殖腺体。以五种新热带树蛙为例，它们在身体的不同部位都有雄性繁殖腺，我想研究一下这个世界上最大的蛙科（Hylidae）对性信息素的使用。为此，我计划1)在墨西哥和秘鲁的原生栖息地对这些青蛙进行取样，2)从组织学上检查它们的繁殖腺体，并在3d模型中可视化它们，3)使用遗传和化学方法（下一代测序和HPLC）分离并鉴定信息素腺体内容，4)在野外行为分析中测试求偶期间性信息素的重要性。通过这项研究，我计划扩展迄今为止非常有限的关于无尾目动物求偶信息素的使用和结构的知识。比较同一科不同物种和属之间的信息素，以及迄今为止其他两栖动物物种（特别是蝾螈）的化学化合物，可能会进一步了解两栖动物尤其是无尾动物求偶信息素的进化。