Mechanisms and evolution of sexually dimorphic electrocommunication signals

性二态通讯信号进化迅速，是动物产生的最广泛、最多样和最显著的行为之一。这个项目将结合联合收割机进化和生理学的方法来研究大脑的性别分化是如何进化的，与行为的性别差异有关。该项目将通过比较研究调节南美洲电鱼物种丰富的家庭中的性二态信号的机制来解决这个问题。这些动物产生微弱的电信号来传达有关物种，性别，社会地位和动机的信息。电通信信号的性别差异的大小和方向在不同物种之间存在差异。这些信号的性别差异受到睾酮和雌激素等激素以及血清素等神经调节剂的调节。控制电子通信信号的大脑回路是很好的特征，而且相对简单。该项目的目标有四个：（1）比较不同物种间信号的性别差异，并研究不同信号成分性别差异的协同进化;（2）确定性二态行为的物种多样性是否通过行为的激素敏感性的变化而进化;（3）确定性二态行为的物种多样性是否通过性二态行为的激素敏感性的变化而进化。（3）确定行为的性别差异是否通过控制通信信号的大脑区域的神经调节的变化而演变;（4）确定行为的性别差异是否通过脑细胞内在生理学的变化而演变。本科生将帮助收集和分析数据，并将接受培训和鼓励追求科学事业。该项目将保持印第安纳州大学和巴西亚马逊国家研究所之间的强有力的国际合作。该项目将生成电子通信信号的记录，并将其存储在公共数据库中，并为动物通信，性别差异，生物多样性，感官生物学和生物物理学的研究和教学提供资源。

Sexually dimorphic communication signals evolve rapidly and are among the most widespread, diverse, and conspicuous behaviors that animals produce. This project will combine evolutionary and physiological approaches to study how sexual differentiation of the brain evolves in relation to sex differences in behavior. The project will address this question by comparatively studying mechanisms that regulate sexual dimorphic signals in a species-rich family of South American electric fish. These animals generate weak electrical signals to communicate information about species, sex, social rank, and motivation. The magnitude and direction of sex differences in electric communication signals vary across species. Sex differences in these signals are regulated by hormones like testosterone and estrogens and by neuromodulators like serotonin. The brain circuit that controls electric communication signals is well-characterized and relatively simple. These features facilitate investigations of how hormone-brain-behavior interactions evolved to produce species diversity in sexual dimorphic behavior.The project has four goals: (1) to compare sex differences in signals across species and investigate the coevolution of sex differences in different signal components; (2) to determine whether species diversity in sexual dimorphic behavior evolves through changes in the hormonal sensitivity of behavior; (3) to determine whether sex differences in behavior evolve through changes in neuromodulation in brain regions that control communication signals; and (4) to determine whether sex differences in behavior evolve through changes in the intrinsic physiology of brain cells.Undergraduates will help collect and analyze data and will be trained and encouraged to pursue scientific careers. The project will maintain a robust international collaboration between Indiana University and the National Institute of Amazon Research in Brazil. The project will generate recordings of electric communication signals that will be deposited in a public database and provide resources for research and teaching on animal communication, sex differences, biodiversity, sensory biology, and biophysics.