Video-Imaging Technique for an Experimental Analysis of Behavior

了解动物如何选择配偶既是理论上的， 方法上的挑战。 许多关于不同生物的研究 已经证明了雌性选择配偶，这种选择是 基于男性在身体和行为特征上的差异。 然而，很少有人知道如何选择，以及如何 受到遗传和环境因素的影响。 Kodric-Brown博士和Nicoletto博士将开发并应用一种视频成像技术， 雄性动物求偶表现和颜色模式的重要性 孔雀鱼吸引雌性的能力 使用这样一个 成像技术有：（a）精确控制男性的颜色 模式和求偶行为，（B）高度 重复性，因为同样的男性形象被呈现给 （c）操纵个人行为的能力， 形态成分相互独立， 结合，这将允许评估他们的相对 在女性选择中的重要性，以及（d）准确介绍 同样的选择，以不同的女性在人口或 同一个女人在她生命或经历的不同阶段。 这项研究应能解答下列重要问题： (a)女性的择偶偏好有多大的差异 在人群中和人群之间？ (b)这些数据的一致性 个人的偏好。它们是随着年龄的增长而变化， 经验？ (c)不同性状如何联合收割机生产 吸引人的求爱信号 该项目的成果还将 与其他行为领域相关，例如使用 通信系统中的信号。

Understanding how animals choose mates is both a theoretical and a methodological challenge. Many studies on diverse organisms have shown that females choose mates and that this choice is based on variation among males in physical and behavioral traits. However, little is known about how the choice is made and how it is affected by genetic and environmental factmrs. Drs. Kodric-Brown and Nicoletto will develop and apply a video- imaging technique that will allow assessment of the relative importance of courtship displays and color patterns of male guppies in attracting females. Advantages of using such an imaging technique are: (a) precise control of male color patterns and courtship behavior, (b) high degree of repeatability, because the same male images are presented to females, (c) ability to manipulate individual behavioral and morphological components independently of each other and in combination, which will allow assessment of their relative importance in female choice, and (d) ability to present exactly the same choices to different females in the population or to the same female at different stages of her life or experience. The research should yield answers to such important questions as: (a) How much variation is there in mate preferences among females within and between populations? (b) How consistent are the preferences of individuals. and do they change with age or experience? (c) How do different traits combine to produce attractive courtship signals? Results of this project will also be relevant to other areas of behavior, such as the use of signals in communication systems.