Competition and Communication: ROW Award

在包括淡水孔雀鱼在内的各种物种中，研究了雄性竞争和雌性配偶偏好在决定生殖成功方面的相对重要性。布鲁斯博士的初步观察表明，雄性孔雀鱼似乎会根据其社会群体中地位最高的雄性的存在与否来调整它们的求爱方式。这些观察结果表明，雄性竞争和其他交配策略的作用值得进一步研究。布鲁斯博士将研究社会结构对雄性孔雀鱼求偶表现的影响。观察三个雄性和三个雌性孔雀鱼的社会群体来确定雄性的社会等级；然后，等级最高的（阿尔法）雄性将被从群体中除名，而下属雄性的行为将受到监控。然后，雄性领袖将被重新引入，观察所有雄性的求偶行为。当雄性领袖缺席时，从属雄性的性行为会增加，而当雄性领袖回归后，从属雄性的性行为会减少。在随后的研究中，将监测一个稳定的社会群体中雄性在引入新雄性之前和之后的行为。居住雄性的性行为将保持高位或增加，并抑制新雄性向雌性求爱。如果竞争影响了雄性孔雀鱼的求偶表现，那么雄性与雄性之间的竞争不仅会直接影响生殖成功，使一些雄性从竞争中消失，而且还会间接影响雄性与雌性的交流，从而影响雌性对配偶的偏好。因此，布鲁斯博士的研究有可能有助于我们理解繁殖成功的行为因素。

The relative importance of male-male competition and female mate preference in determining reproductive success has been studied in a variety of species, including freshwater guppies. Dr. Bruce's preliminary observations indicate that male guppies appear to adjust their courtship displays depending on the presence or absence of the highest-ranking male of their social group. These observations suggest that the roles of male-male competition and alternative mating strategies deserve further investigation. Dr. Bruce will investigate the effects of social structure on courtship displays of male guppies. Social groups of three male and three female guppies will be observed to determine male social rank; the highest-ranking (alpha) male will then be removed from the group and the behavior of the subordinate males monitored. The alpha male will then be reintroduced and all males' courtship behavior observed. Subordinate males' sexual behavior is expected to increase when the alpha male is absent and decrease after his reintroduction. In a subsequent study, the behavior of males in a stable social group will be monitored before and after the introduction of a novel male. The resident males' sexual behavior is expected to remain high or increase and inhibit the novel male's courtship displays to females. If competition affects the courtship displays of male guppies, then male-male competition may affect reproductive success not only directly, by removing some males from contention, but also indirectly, by influencing males' communication with females and thereby the females' preference for mates. Dr. Bruce's research thus has the potential for contributing to our understanding of the behavioral factors in reproductive success.