The Role of Sexual Selection in the Loss of a Sexually Selected Male Trait

性选择在男性性选择特征丧失中的作用。性选择（雌性交配偏好和雄性与雄性之间的竞争）在产生夸张或显眼的雄性特征方面的作用已经有很好的记录，然而最近对密切相关物种的比较表明，这些雄性特征的丧失可能比获得更常见。 本项目研究雄性竞争和雌性选择在几种剑尾鱼中发现的色素图案“竖条”的丢失中的作用。 通过比较雄性和雌性对密切相关物种的酒吧的反应，将有可能确定酒吧何时丢失与雌性偏好和雄性反应的丢失有关。 比较研究的可靠性最终取决于物种间关系信息的可靠性。 因此，本项目将通过比较该模式系统所有22种鱼类的广泛DNA序列数据来解决这组鱼类之间的关系。 该项目将为俄亥俄州大学的一名博士后研究员、两名研究生和一名本科生提供培训，并邀请墨西哥城生物研究所的学生进行实地考察。

The role of sexual selection in the loss of a sexually selected male traitMolly R. Morris The role of sexual selection (female mating preferences and male-male competition for mates) in producing exaggerated or conspicuous male traits has been well documented, and yet recent comparisons of closely related species have suggested that loss of these male traits may be more common than gains. This project examines the roles of both male-male competition and female choice in the loss of the pigment pattern "vertical bars" found across several species of Xiphophorus fishes. By comparing the responses of males and female to the bars in closely related species it will be possible to determine when the bars were lost in relation to the loss of female preference and male response. The reliability of comparative studies ultimately depends on the reliability of the information about the relationships among the species. Therefore, this project will resolve the relationships within this group of fishes by comparing extensive DNA sequence data for all 22 species of this model system of fishes. This project will provide training for one postdoctoral fellow, two graduate students and one undergraduate student at Ohio University, as well as invitations to students at the Instituto de Biologia in Mexico City to go on field trips.