Behavioral and Reproductive Responses to a Population Bottleneck in Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)

叉角羚是一种土生土长的北美有蹄类动物，这项研究的目的是调查种群瓶颈对繁殖行为的影响。这项研究将完成一个完整的种群谱系的构建，测量近亲繁殖对生殖的影响，并观察雌性在选择配偶时是否能够避免近亲繁殖。这样一来，雌性就可以在避免近亲繁殖和选择交配对象之间取得平衡。实现这些目标是可能的，因为长期的记录，以及最近在蒙大拿州西北部国家野牛范围内的叉角羚数量的罕见数量事件。这项工作的结果将直接用于野生动物管理者，他们将在西部14个州设定狩猎日期、收获水平和叉角羚的目标种群规模。该项目将提供有关该物种遗传标记的信息。该项目将培养2名女博士生，并将涉及至少16名本科生，其中一半将来自代表性不足的群体，从事实地和实验室方面的研究。与美国鱼类和野生动物管理局的合作将导致对这一重要叉角羚种群健康趋势的最新估计。

The goals of this work on pronghorn, a native North American hoofed animal, are to investigate the effects of a population bottleneck on breeding behavior. The study will complete the construction of a complete population pedigree, measure the effects of inbreeding on reproduction, and see whether females, in their mate choice decisions, are able to avoid inbreeding. In doing so, females may be able to balance inbreeding avoidance with mate choice for genetically superior males. It is possible to achieve these goals because of long-term records, as well as a recent and rare population event, for the pronghorn population at the National Bison Range in northwestern Montana. Results from this work will be of direct use to wildlife managers, who set hunting dates, harvest levels, and target population sizes for pronghorn in 14 western states. The project will make available information on genetic markers for this species. The project will train 2 female Ph.D. students, and will involve at least 16 undergraduates, half of whom will be from under-represented groups, in field and laboratory aspects of the research. Collaborative work with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service will result in updated estimates of health trends in this important pronghorn population.