The Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism in Plumage: A Phylogenetic Perspective

本研究利用一组鸟类的进化树来研究雄性和雌性在羽毛上的差异。多种生物的进化树为羽毛颜色进化的经典观点提供了新的视角。例如，男性装饰物可能经常丢失，而女性通常会进化出复杂的特征。在这项研究中，三个基因的DNA序列将被用来重建一个物种的进化树的经理人和雀。由此产生的进化树将用于研究羽毛性别差异的进化模式。不同类型的羽毛之间的转换将被制成表格，雄性羽毛的变化频率将与雌性羽毛的变化频率进行比较。除了提供雄性和雌性羽毛差异的进化信息外，该项目产生的数据还将解决各种领域的问题，包括中美洲和南美洲的生物地理学，鸟类紫外线着色的流行，摄食特征的进化以及进化树的构建方法。除了该提案的科学影响外，该项目还将为本科生和研究生提供培训和教育机会。圣地亚哥州立大学是一个多元化的校园，没有任何种族构成学生的大多数。希望参与这个项目的学生能够反映出校园的多样性。研究结果将在科学期刊、大众媒体和观鸟文献中广泛传播。分子序列数据和羽毛数据都将在网上提供。这个项目的结果也将通过提供可包括在讲座和探究性活动中的具体例子来加强首席研究员的教学努力。

Kevin J. BurnsThe Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism in Plumage: A Phylogenetic Perspective This study uses an evolutionary tree of a group of birds to investigate the evolution of differences between males and females in plumage. Evolutionary trees of a variety of organisms are providing a new perspective to classical ideas about the evolution of plumage coloration. For example, male ornaments can be lost frequently, and females often evolve elaborate traits. In this study, DNA sequences of three genes will be used to reconstruct an evolutionary tree for species of tanagers and finches. The resulting evolutionary tree will be used to examine patterns of evolution of sexual differences in plumage. Transformations between different types of plumage will be tabulated and the frequency of changes in male plumage will be compared to the frequency of changes in female plumage. In addition to providing information on the evolution of male and female plumage differences, the data resulting from this project will also address questions in a variety of areas including the biogeography of Central and South America, the prevalence of ultraviolet coloration in birds, the evolution of feeding characteristics, and evolutionary tree constructing methods. Beyond scientific impacts of this proposal, this project will also provide training and educational opportunities for several students, at both the undergraduate and graduate level. SDSU is a diverse campus, with no racial group making up a majority of the students. It is expected that the students that work on this project will reflect the diversity seen on campus. Results will be disseminated broadly within scientific journals, the popular media, and bird-watching literature. Both the molecular sequence data and the plumage data will be made accessible online. The teaching efforts of the principal investigator will also be enhanced by the results of this project by providing specific examples that can be included in lectures and inquiry-based activities.