The role of pre- and post-mating sexual selection on trait evolution: from ejaculates to behaviour

了解交配前和交配后的性选择如何相互作用，以塑造生殖特征的进化多样性仍然是性选择研究中公认的挑战。 通过利用板球作为昆虫模式系统，拟议的项目旨在通过量化交配前后选择对雄性生殖适合度和关键生殖性状的相对贡献，了解性选择如何塑造复杂的表型（行为、形态和射精），并检查他们的贡献是否会在选择机会和强度不同的社会环境中发生变化。它还将揭示相关的进化和/或进化权衡交配前和交配后性状之间的测量性状反应解开交配前和交配后的选择压力通过实验进化获得。所产生的知识可能会在性状进化和交配系统动力学的研究中形成新的和令人兴奋的方向。

Understanding how pre- and post-mating sexual selection interact to shape the evolutionary diversification of reproductive traits remains a well-recognised challenge in sexual selection research. By making use of the field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) as an insect model system, the proposed project aims to understand how sexual selection shapes complex phenotypes by quantifying the relative contribution of pre- and post-mating selection to male reproductive fitness and key reproductive traits (behaviour, morphology, and ejaculates), and examine whether their contribution is altered across social environments varying in the opportunity and strength for selection. It will also uncover correlated evolution and/or evolutionary trade-offs between pre- and post-mating traits by measuring trait responses to disentangled pre- and post-mating selective pressures attained through experimental evolution. The knowledge generated will likely forge new and exciting directions in the study of trait evolution and mating system dynamics.