DISSERTATION RESEARCH: A Comparative Analysis of the Relationship Between Size, Aggression and a Signal of Aggressive Intent in Male Northern Swordtail Fishes

本研究采用比较的方法对北方9种剑尾鱼的攻击性和雄性体型之间的进化关系进行了评估。双元竞赛和镜像想象测试将被用来衡量侵略水平。每个物种的平均雄性大小和两种攻击性指标之间的关系将使用独立对比的比较方法进行分析，以确定雄性大小和攻击性是否共同进化。此外，雄性对攻击意图信号（竖线）的反应将被检查，以确定该信号是否混淆了攻击和大小之间的关系。这项研究很重要，因为它将揭示雄性之间的竞争在雄性体型进化中所起的作用，同时检验信号和遗传对攻击性的可能影响。除了研究生培训，本科生还参加了到墨西哥的收集旅行，项目设计，数据收集，并被列为他们做出了实质性和智力贡献的出版物的作者。该项目还包括国际合作，来自两国的学生和研究人员从实地互动和在各自国内大学传播研究成果中受益。

A comparative approach will be used to assess the evolutionary relationship between aggressionand male size across the nine species of northern swordtail fishes. Dyadic contests and mirror imagestimulation tests will be used to measure aggression levels. The relationship between the mean male sizeof each species and the two measures of aggression will be analyzed using the comparative method ofindependent contrasts to determine if male size and aggression have been coevolving. In addition, theresponse of males to a signal of aggressive intent (vertical bars) will be examined to determine if thissignal confounds the relationship between aggression and size. This study is important because it willexamine the role that male-male competition has played in the evolution of male size, while examiningthe possible effects of a signal and phylogeny on aggression.In addition to graduate training, undergraduates participate in collection trips to Mexico, projectdesign, data collection and are included as authors on publications for which they have made a substantialand intellectual contribution. This project also includes international collaboration, with students andresearchers from both countries benefiting from in-field interactions and dissemination of research at eachothers home universities.