Using intraspecific variation to study mating systems

利用种内变异研究交配系统

• 批准号: 6701668
• 负责人: Nancy Gail Solomon
• 金额: $ 21万
• 依托单位: MIAMI UNIVERSITY OXFORD
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-02-01 至 2009-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6701668
• 关键词: animal ecology; animal population study; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; ethology; interpersonal relations; polymerase chain reaction; sex behavior; sex partner; social behavior; telemetry; vole

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Early views considered mating systems to be species-specific i.e., did not vary among different populations. As multiple populations of different species were studied, it became evident that interpopulation differences in mating systems were more common than previously imagined. In addition, use of term mating system without any modifiers was problematic since it confounded social and genetic mating systems of males and females. Therefore, I propose to conduct a comparative study to identify ecological correlates of social and genetic mating systems using prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster. Populations of prairie voles in different parts of their range live in habitats that differ in climate, which affects the quality and distribution of vegetation. Characterization of the mating system of prairie voles has been based on a population from Illinois. If the mating system is influenced by climate and its effects on the distribution of resources, prairie voles in Kansas may display an alternative mating system. My objective is to determine whether social and genetic monogamy are seen under certain ecological conditions. The prairie vole is an interesting model system since it has been used as a model of monogamy and affiliative behavior. Understanding factors that affect variation in social mating systems (e.g. pair bonds) are key to understanding the biological basis of attachment. Eventually understanding the variability in behavioral processes involved in social mating relationships might also provide insight into the biological basis of variability in response to stressors. I will sample prairie vole populations in eastern Kansas and east-central Illinois to determine the ecological correlates of the social and genetic mating system of females and males. Animals will be live-trapped and radio tracked to determine the social mating system. Tissue samples will be collected for subsequent genetic analysis using microsatellite primers identified for prairie voles in my laboratory previously. This study will be the first to compare the social and genetic mating systems of multiple populations of a rodent thought to be monogamous, and will allow me to design experimental manipulations to determine the factors that influence mammalian mating systems.

描述（由申请人提供）：早期的观点认为交配系统是物种特异性的，即，在不同人群中没有差异。随着对不同物种的多个种群的研究，很明显，交配系统中的种群间差异比以前想象的更普遍。此外，使用术语交配系统没有任何修饰语是有问题的，因为它混淆了社会和遗传交配系统的男性和女性。因此，我建议进行比较研究，以确定生态相关的社会和遗传交配系统，草原田鼠，田鼠ochrogaster。草原田鼠在其分布区的不同部分生活在气候不同的栖息地，这影响了植被的质量和分布。草原田鼠交配系统的特征是基于伊利诺斯州的种群。如果交配系统受到气候及其对资源分布的影响，堪萨斯的草原田鼠可能会显示出另一种交配系统。我的目标是确定是否社会和遗传一夫一妻制被视为在一定的生态条件。草原田鼠是一个有趣的模型系统，因为它已被用作一夫一妻制和从属行为的模型。了解影响社会交配系统变化的因素（例如配对键）是理解依恋的生物学基础的关键。最终，了解社会交配关系中行为过程的变异性也可能提供对压力源反应变异性的生物学基础的见解。 我将对堪萨斯东部和伊利诺斯州中东部的草原田鼠种群进行采样，以确定雌性和雄性的社会和遗传交配系统的生态相关性。动物们将被活生生的诱捕，并通过无线电追踪，以确定社会交配系统。组织样本将被收集用于随后的遗传分析，使用微卫星引物在我的实验室以前确定的草原田鼠。这项研究将是第一个比较社会和遗传交配系统的多个种群的啮齿动物被认为是一夫一妻制，并将允许我设计实验操作，以确定影响哺乳动物交配系统的因素。