Control of Reproductive Function in Diverse Habitats

这项提案将调查Zonotricia属“皇冠麻雀”种群繁殖的环境控制。已在北极、中纬度和赤道区域确定了主要种群，这些种群表现出在中纬度和赤道区域的时间极不灵活(北极)和不同程度的灵活性和不同程度的不同步。野外实验将确定每个栖息地内繁殖季节的灵活性。将特别强调两性内部和两性之间的社会互动如何有助于繁殖周期的同步和时间组织。平行的实验室实验将进一步探索环境信号，如日长、温度、食物和水的变化如何与社会线索相互作用，以调节神经内分泌和协调生殖功能的内分泌分泌。尤其重要的是对下丘脑中可能为这些环境信号提供途径的新肽的研究。这一结果将对脊椎动物在不久的将来如何应对全球变化具有实际应用价值，并将为环境控制机制的进化提供独特的见解。一些种群可能能够适应，而另一些种群则不能，这可能表明未来的保护工作应该集中在哪里。该项目将为本科生和研究生教育以及与当地一所高中正在进行的项目的推广提供一个框架。

This proposal will investigate the environmental control of breeding in populations of "crowned sparrows" of the genus Zonotrichia. Key populations have been identified in Arctic, mid-latitudes and equatorial regions that express the full spectrum of extreme inflexibility of timing (Arctic) to varying degrees of flexibility and asynchrony at mid-latitudes and equatorial regions. Field experiments will determine how flexible breeding seasons are within each habitat. Particular emphasis will be placed on how social interactions within and between sexes contribute to the synchronization and temporal organization of the breeding cycle. Parallel laboratory experiments will explore further how environmental signals such as change in day length, temperature, food and water interact with social cues to regulate neuroendocrine and endocrine secretions that orchestrate reproductive function. Of particular importance are investigations of novel peptides in the hypothalamus that may provide pathways for these environmental signals. The results will have practical applications for how vertebrates may respond to global change in the near future, and will provide unique insight on how environmental control mechanisms evolved. Some populations may be able to adjust, whereas others may not, possibly indicating where future conservation efforts should be focused. The project will provide a framework for education at undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as for outreach to an ongoing project with a local high school.