Functions of Conspicuous Coloration in Fish

许多不同物种的雄性在繁殖过程中表现出明显的显色功能，这在生物学上一直是一个猜测的话题，但还没有得到多少确凿的证据。科德里奇-布朗博士将进行实验，研究雄性鲤鱼的亮蓝色繁殖颜色的功能。只有有繁殖地的雄性才会产生这种颜色并繁殖。蓝色繁殖颜色可以起到两个作用：(1)通过与其他雄性的竞争来促进繁殖区域的获取和防御，以及(2)将雌性吸引到雄性的区域。科德里奇-布朗博士将把繁殖能力较强、繁殖能力较强的雄性和没有繁殖能力的雄性引入大型水箱。她将通过实验操作(A)水箱底部的材料，以确定合适的繁殖底物对繁殖有色发育的重要性，(B)雄性之间的竞争性相互作用，以确定优势在繁殖有色发育中的重要性，以及(C)雌性产卵行为，以确定雄性繁殖的颜色如何影响雌性对特定雄性的选择。此外，雄性将通过用蓝色染料染色来试验性地改变它们的外观。这项研究将提供对配偶识别和男性优势的重要特征类型的洞察，以及导致它们发展的潜在机制。这些特征是重要的社会信号，在有性繁殖有机体中几乎无处不在。它们在防止杂交方面尤其重要，从而在我们迅速恶化的水环境中保持物种的完整性。

The function of conspicuous coloration displayed by breeding males of many different species has been a topic of much speculation in biology, but little solid evidence has yet been obtained. Dr. Kodric-Brown will perform experiments to investigate the function of the bright blue breeding coloration of male pupfish. Only males with breeding territories develop this coloration and reproduce. The blue breeding coloration may serve two functions: (1) facilitate acquisition and defense of a breeding territory through competition with other males, and (2) attract females to a male's territory. Dr. Kodric-Brown will introduce already-breeding males with well- developed breeding coloration and non-breeding males lacking this coloration into large tanks. She will experimentally manipulate (a) material on the bottom of the tank, to determine the importance of suitable breeding substrate for the development of breeding coloration, (b) competitive interactions among males, to determine the importance of dominance in the development of breeding coloration, and (c) female spawning behavior, to determine how male breeding coloration influences female choice of particular males. Also, the appearance of males will be experimentally altered by dyeing them with a blue dye. This study will provide insights into the types of traits important in mate recognition and male dominance, and the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for their development. Such traits act as important social signals and are virtually ubiquitous in sexually reproducing organisms. They are especially important in preventing hybridization, thus maintaining the integrity of species in our rapidly deteriorating aquatic environments.