RUI: Behavioral convergence in Caribbean lizards: morphological and physiological mechanisms

动物通过特定的行为相互交流，这些行为是由肌肉、激素和中枢神经系统的相互作用控制的。然而，目前尚不清楚表现出相同行为模式的物种是否具有相似的肌肉、激素和神经特征（统称为行为机制），或者这些特征的不同组合是否会产生相同的行为。这个项目使用了一组26种蜥属蜥蜴来确定两种社会行为背后的机制：通过喉咙扇的延伸与其他蜥蜴交流，以及交配。由于这些行为很简单，但可以直接在多个物种之间进行比较，因此这项研究可以对控制所有脊椎动物行为的神经肌肉特征之间的相互作用进行清晰而全面的评估。本研究由两个部分组成，两个部分都旨在确定社会行为及其机制之间的进化关系。首先，通过对动物自然行为的详细观察与测量动物神经肌肉特征的生化分析相结合，该项目将确定生活在相似栖息地的物种是否具有相似的行为及其潜在机制，以及不同栖息地的物种是否表现出不同的行为和行为机制。接下来，一项实验室实验将通过改变四种雄性动物的睾丸激素水平来操纵它们的社会行为率。这个实验将确定激素增强的行为是否与不同物种的神经肌肉特征的相同组合有关。总体而言，该项目将为12名本科生提供密集的实践研究经验，并将为圣安东尼奥城市公立学校五年级科学教师及其学生提供一个项目的基础。这些努力将侧重于为一个多样化的社区提供行为和生理学科学方面的无障碍培训。数据将提供：EthoBank （http://www.indiana.edu/~ethobank/index.html）和lizardbase（http://lizardbase.org/pages/index.html）

Animals communicate with each other using specific behaviors that are controlled by the interaction of muscles, hormones, and the central nervous system. However, it is not yet known whether species that exhibit the same patterns of behavior have similar muscular, hormonal, and neural traits (collectively referred to as mechanisms of behavior), or if different combinations of these traits can produce the same behaviors. This project uses a group of 26 lizard species in the genus Anolis to determine the mechanisms that underlie two social behaviors: communication with other lizards through the extension of a throat fan, and copulation. Because these behaviors are simple, but can be directly compared across multiple species, this study allows a clear and comprehensive assessment of the interactions between the neuromuscular traits that control behavior in all vertebrates. This study is comprised of two components, both of which aim to determine the evolutionary relationships between social behaviors and their mechanisms. First, by combining detailed observations of the animals' natural behavior with biochemical assays that measure the neuromuscular traits of the animals, this project will determine if species that live in similar habitats have similar behaviors and their underlying mechanisms, and if species in different habitats exhibit different behaviors and behavioral mechanisms. Next, a laboratory experiment will manipulate rates of social behavior in males of four species by altering their levels of testosterone. This experiment will determine whether hormone-enhanced behaviors are associated with the same combination of neuromuscular traits across species. Overall, this project will provide intensive, hands-on research experiences for 12 undergraduate students, and will form the basis of a program for fifth grade science teachers and their students in urban public schools in San Antonio. These efforts will focus on providing accessible training in the science of behavior and physiology to a diverse community.Data will be made available: EthoBank (http://www.indiana.edu/~ethobank/index.html) and lizardbase(http://lizardbase.org/pages/index.html)