Dissertation Research: Courtship Pheromones, Female Receptivity, and Sexual Isolation in Plethodontid Salamanders

非技术建议#9801210 Kreitman，M./Rollmann，S.在陆生多齿火蜥蜴中，雄性在求偶过程中向雌性传递化学物质(信息素)。这些信息素导致雌性接受度的增加，从而减少了一对伴侣花在求爱上的时间。雌性也可以使用这些信息素来确定求爱的雄性是否是她的物种的一员。这种可能性将通过观察雌性对来自同一物种内不同亚群的雄性信息素和来自不同物种的雄性信息素的行为反应来测试。行为实验将伴随着对影响雌性行为的信息素成分的化学分析。许多脊椎动物依靠化学信号，如信息素，在潜在配偶之间进行交流。这些信息素的化学变异可能导致对来自不同亚种群的个体的歧视，并可能导致亚种群在生殖上的完全隔离，从而促进新物种的形成。信息素的不同作用减少交配的假设还没有在脊椎动物物种中得到验证，几乎没有脊椎动物信息素被分离和鉴定。最后，到目前为止，很少有研究关注信息素中的化学可变性，或者化学差异与行为影响之间的关系。这项研究开辟了新的领域，利用多齿蜥蜴提供的独特机会来研究这些问题。

Nontechnical Abstract Proposal # 9801210 Kreitman, M. / Rollmann, S. In terrestrial plethodontid salamanders, a male delivers chemicals substances (pheromones) to the female during courtship. These pheromones lead to an increase in female receptivity, thereby reducing the time a pair spends in courtship. These pheromones may also be used by females to determine whether or not the courting male is a member of her species. This possibility will be tested by observing the behavioral responses of females to male pheromones from different subpopulations within the same species and from males from different species. The behavioral experiments will be accompanied by chemical analyses of the pheromone components that influence female behavior. Many vertebrates rely on chemical signals, such as pheromones, for communication between potential mates. Chemical variation in these pheromones could lead to discrimination against individuals from different subpopulations and perhaps lead to complete reproductive isolation of the subpopulations thereby contributing to the formation of new species. The hypothesis that divergence in pheromones functions to reduce mating has not been tested in a vertebrate species and few vertebrate pheromones have been isolated and identified. Finally, until now, little research has focused on the chemical variability in pheromones or on the relationship between chemical differences and behavioral effects. This research breaks new ground by using the unique opportunity offered in plethodontid salamanders to investigate these issues.