Ecological and evolutionary impacts of sexual dimorphism

性别差异是最常见的生物现象之一。然而，我们对性二型性(同一物种的雄性和雌性之间的特征差异)如何有助于进化和生态(生态进化动力学)之间的特征反馈知之甚少。我的研究使用经济上重要的昆虫(传粉者和害虫)来衡量人类诱导的环境变化如何影响性选择(SS)以影响性别差异，以及这些性别差异如何反馈影响生态和进化。在接下来的五年里，我的实验室将致力于三个研究目标：1：表征环境变化对性二态的影响；2：确定性二态的变异如何影响生态；3：阐明极端的性二态如何影响进化过程？环境变化如何影响性二态？目的1测量男性和女性对环境应激源反应的差异。我们将通过测量跨越城市梯度(城市中心到自然栖息地)的舞蹈苍蝇和蚊子的SS(装饰、性别比例偏差和性大小二型)的共同相关性，来研究人类对SS的影响。我们还将测量雌性蚊子在高密度和低密度地区对城市污染物和捕食压力的产卵偏好。性别差异如何影响生态？目标2解决性别差异(如环境变化造成的性别差异)可能对生态过程产生的影响。在项目1中，我们将测量雄性和雌性蜻蜓在不同生命阶段的取食行为和身体组成，以量化生活史上性别二态的细微变化对生态的影响。第二个项目评估蚊子的性二态猎物脆弱性。我将量化特定性别蚊子幼虫大小和运动的变化，并测量捕食者对某一性别的偏好。一个性别上强大的SS如何影响两性之间的共同进化动态？目标3建立在我之前工作的基础上，即女性的强烈选择如何影响进化结果。我们将测量舞蹈苍蝇(双翅目：眼蝇亚科)内和之间的雄性和雌性的快速进化结构(生殖器)，以估计当雌性在更强的选择下是性别时的进化速度和两性之间的共同进化动力学。影响和培训-这些项目将代表着我们对环境如何以不同方式影响性别以及性别差异如何塑造生态和进化的理解方面的重大进步。这些结果将对保护、城市规划和虫害管理产生重要影响。重要的是，受训人员将在所有项目中发挥重要作用。我将招募和提供所有水平的学习(理科，硕士，博士，PDF)的培训。学员将在一套多学科的技术和专业培训中获得专业知识，以获得在科学领域的职业生涯。

Sex differences are one of the most commonly observed biological phenomenon. Yet we know little about how sexual dimorphism (trait differences between males and females of the same species) contributes to characteristic feedbacks between evolution and ecology (eco-evolutionary dynamics). My research uses economically important insects (pollinators and pests) to measure how human-induced environmental change influences sexual selection (SS) to impact sex differences and how these sex differences feedback to influence ecology and evolution. In the next five years, my lab will address 3 research objectives: 1: Characterize the influence of environmental change on sexual dimorphism 2: Determine how variation in sexual dimorphism influences ecology 3: Illustrate how extreme sexual dimorphism affects evolutionary processes How does environmental variation affect sexual dimorphism? Objective 1 measures differences in male and female responses to environmental stressors. We will examine anthropogenic impacts on SS by measuring common correlates of SS (ornamentation, sex ratio skew and sexual size dimorphism) in dance flies and mosquitoes across an urban gradient (city centre to natural habitat). We will also measure female mosquito oviposition preferences in response to city pollutants and predation pressure in high and low human density areas. How do sex differences impact ecology? Objective 2 addresses the effect that sex differences (like those shaped by environmental change) can have on ecological processes. In project 1 we will measure feeding behaviours and body composition across life stages in male and female dragonflies to quantify the impact of subtle variation in sexual dimorphism across life history on ecology. The second project assesses sexually dimorphic prey vulnerability in mosquitoes. I will quantify variation in sex-specific mosquito larvae size and movement and measure predator preference for one sex or the other. How does strong SS on one sex impact co-evolutionary dynamics between the sexes? Objective 3 builds on my previous work into how strong selection on females can shape evolutionary outcomes. We will measure quickly evolving structures (genitalia) in males and females within and across dance flies (Diptera: Empidinae) to estimate rates of evolution and coevolution dynamics between the sexes when females are the sex under stronger selection. Impact and training - These projects will represent a major advance in our understanding of how environments can differently impact the sexes and how sex differences can shape ecology and evolution. These results will have important implications for conservation, urban planning and pest management. Importantly, trainees will play an important role in all projects. I will recruit and provide training at all levels of study (BSc, MSc, PhD, PDF). Trainees will gain expertise in a multidisciplinary suite of techniques and professional training to obtain careers in science.