Dissertation Research: Microsatellite Analysis of Mating System, Selection and Brood Reduction in the Pipefish Syngnathus Typhle

小行星9623404 该奖项资助的研究代表了行为和分子遗传学领域的融合。 这项研究利用了一个独特的机会来测试关于两性行为差异进化的理论。 将对宽吻海龙（Syngnathus typhle）进行研究。 雄性海龙鱼和海马的身体携带发育中的幼鱼，通常在一个完全封闭的育儿袋中，为发育中的幼鱼提供营养、通风和保护。 这种雄性的“怀孕”导致了通常的性别角色的逆转，雌性为了获得配偶而竞争，而雄性则倾向于更主动。通过使用DNA指纹技术，野外实验将确定自然环境中的雄性从多个雌性那里获得卵子的频率，并将测试自然界中的雌性是否与多个雄性交配。 这些发现将把在实验室中进行的行为实验置于更广泛的进化背景中。 其次，实验室的繁殖实验将测试种群性别比例是否会影响雌性之间的交配竞争。第三，将进行操作，以测试来自不同母亲的卵子之间的竞争，当同一男性携带。 这项研究的结果将促进对行为进化的理解，并为致力于保护这一神秘而多样的鱼类群体的生物多样性的渔业生物学家提供重要信息。

9623404 Avise The research funded in this award represents a merging of the fields of behavior and molecular genetics. The study takes advantage of a unique opportunity to test theory on the evolution of behavioral differences between the sexes. Research will be carried out on Syngnathus typhle, the broad-nosed pipefish. Male pipefishes and seahorses carry developing young on their bodies, often in a fully enclosed pouch, and provide nutrients, aeration and protection for the developing young. This male "pregnancy" results in a reversal of the usual sex roles, wherein females compete for access to mates and males tend to be choosier. By using DNA fingerprinting techniques, field experiments will determine how often males in natural environments receive eggs from multiple females and will test whether females in nature mate with multiple males. These findings will place behavioral experiments performed in the laboratory into a broader evolutionary context. Second, breeding experiments in the laboratory will test whether population sex ratio influences competition among females for mates. Third, manipulations will be conducted to test for competition among eggs from different mothers when carried by the same male. Findings from this research will advance the understanding of the evolution of behavior and provide important information for fisheries biologists working to conserve biodiversity in this enigmatic and diverse group of fishes.