DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Sexual Conflict and Extrapair Paternity in the Plural Cooperatively Breeding Superb Starling, Lamprotornis Superbus

合作繁殖的优秀椋鸟LAMPROTORNIS superbustin R. rubenstein合作繁殖发生在两个以上的个体共同照顾一个巢穴的时候。通常，这包括一个或多个非繁殖助手，他们帮助父母在巢中抚养后代。然而，最近对合作繁殖者巢穴的亲子关系进行的遗传研究发现，这些帮助者通常是某些后代的遗传父母。也就是说，雄性助手可能会偷偷地与正在繁殖的雌性进行额外的配对受精。这个项目测试了合作繁殖者中关于性冲突的两个假设（即，对额外配对受精的冲突）。雌性可能会寻求额外的配对受精来获得(1)直接的生殖利益（例如，帮助繁殖）或(2)间接的遗传利益（例如，配偶的遗传质量、多样性或兼容性）。我们将使用物种特异性微卫星标记来研究肯尼亚合作繁殖的多角椋鸟Lamprotornis superbus的性冲突、父系关系和亲缘关系。这将是利用微型卫星研究多元合作繁殖（即每组多个繁殖对）的社会动态的为数不多的研究之一，它将提供关于合作繁殖者如何调解生殖和性冲突的见解。该项目将教育和培训肯尼亚学生从事生态旅游和研究工作所需的技能。

SEXUAL CONFLICT AND EXTRAPAIR PATERNITY IN THEPLURAL COOPERATIVELY BREEDING SUPERB STARLING, LAMPROTORNIS SUPERBUSDustin R. RubensteinCooperative breeding occurs when more than two individuals contribute to the care of a single nest. Typically, this involves one or more non-breeding helpers who aid the parents raise the offspring in the nest. However, much recent genetic work examining parentage in nests of cooperative breeders has found that these helpers are often the genetic parents of some of the offspring. That is, male helpers may sneak extra-pair fertilizations with the breeding female. This project tests two hypotheses about sexual conflict (i.e., conflict over extra-pair fertilizations) in cooperative breeders. Females may seek extra-pair fertilizations to gain (1) direct reproductive benefits (e.g., helping in return for reproduction) or (2) indirect genetic benefits (e.g., genetic quality, diversity, or compatibility in their mates). We will use species-specific microsatellite markers to study sexual conflict, paternity, and relatedness in the plural cooperatively breeding superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, in Kenya. This will be one of the few studies to examine the social dynamics of plural cooperative breeding (i.e., multiple breeding pairs per group) using microsatellites, and it will offer insights into how reproductive and sexual conflict are mediated in cooperative breeders. This project will educate and train Kenyan students in skills necessary to pursue careers in ecotourism and research.