Dissertion Research: Reciprocal Interactions Among Inbreeding, Mate Choice, and Fitness in the Monogamous Old- Field Mouse, Peromyscus Polionotus

本项目将评估一夫一妻制老田鼠近亲交配、配偶选择和繁殖之间的相互关系。近亲繁殖的幼年老田鼠体型较小，死亡率较高。因此，据预测，成体将通过选择不相关的配偶来最大化后代的产量，他们将与这些配偶一起生产出远交的、更健康的幼崽。近亲繁殖的成年雌性老田小鼠生育力下降。因此，据预测，雄性会通过选择远缘繁殖的配偶来最大化后代产量。这些预测将使用受控实验设计进行验证。这项研究还将调查近亲交配的成年雌性生育力下降的潜在生理原因。栖息地碎片化和过度捕捞继续减少许多野生动物种群的数量。当种群数量很少，并被郊区和农场隔开时，近亲繁殖的风险就会增加。重要的是要了解这会如何影响人口增长率。如果近亲交配的成虫生育力降低，如果它们被拒绝作为潜在配偶，那么较小的近亲交配种群将面临灭绝的危险。然而，如果动物根据亲缘关系的程度来区分潜在的配偶，近亲交配的发生率就会降低。老式鼠标将作为一个很好的模型系统来解决这些广泛适用的问题。

Non-Technical Abstract This project will evaluate the interrelationships among inbreeding, mate choice, and reproduction in the monogamous old-field mouse. Inbred juvenile old-field mice are smaller and suffer increased mortality. Consequently, adults are predicted to maximize offspring production by choosing unrelated mates with which they will produce outbred, healthier pups. Inbred adult female old-field mice suffer reduced fertility. Therefore, males are predicted to maximize offspring production by choosing outbred mates. These predictions will be tested using a controlled experimental design. This study will also investigate potential physiological reasons for the reduced fertility of inbred adult females. Habitat fragmentation and over-harvesting continue to reduce the size of many wild animal populations. When populations are small, and are separated from one another by suburbs and farms, there is increased risk of inbreeding. It is important to understand how this can impact population growth rates. If inbred adults have reduced fertility and if they are rejected as potential mates, small inbreeding populations are at risk of extinction. However, if animals distinguish among potential mates based on their degree of relatedness, the incidence of inbreeding is reduced. The old-field mouse will serve as a good model system in which to address these broadly applicable questions.