The evolutionary ecology of genetic quality in fishes

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At the most fundamental level, evolution can be thought of in terms of gene frequency changes over generations. As such, one of the goals of evolutionary biology is to explain why some individuals pass on their genes more successfully than others. My research program falls neatly within this goal of evolutionary biology because it elucidates factors that can affect female choice and male-male competition (i.e. sexual selection), which alters reproductive skews and thus can be responsible for changes in gene frequencies from one generation to the next. A major challenge within the field of sexual selection is to understand how and why females benefit by mating with certain males (or multiple males), which provide no paternal care or material resources. Theoretical models that account for the evolution of mate choice in such non-resource based mating systems requires that females obtain a genetic benefit through increased offspring fitness from their choice of mates. Empirical studies suggest that choosy females can improve the genetic quality of their offspring by mating with males that have good genes (alleles that increase fitness independent of the architecture of the remaining genome) and/or compatible genes (alleles that increase fitness only when in specific genotypes). With the emergence of powerful molecular techniques, evolutionary biologists are now on the verge of being able to provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of mate choice for genetic quality. My long term research goals will focus on four major areas associated with mate choice for genetic quality in fishes: (1) genetic basis of mate choice; (2) major histocompatibility complex; (3) genetic architecture of sperm competition; and (4) mating system evolution. Experiments will: (1) use quantitative genetics to identify sources of genetic variation; (2) examine pre- and post-mating paternity biasing mechanisms; (3) examine genetic quality as it pertains to reproductive success; and (4) develop a new and superior mating system for studying mate choice and genetic quality. These experiments will provide the foundations for a long-term research program on genetic quality and will provide training of highly qualified personnel.