Collaborative Research: RUI: Evolution of color variation in Hawaiian damselflies: causal links for an ecological selection hypothesis

雄性和雌性动物的颜色可能会有很大的不同，这种情况通常可以用吸引配偶的优势来解释。然而，两性的差异可能很大，从非常不同的颜色到相同的颜色，在某些物种中，一个性别可能会在典型的雄性或雌性颜色上有所不同。这项研究测试了彩色色素的功能是否不是作为视觉交配信号，而是作为抗氧化保护，以抵御紫外线辐射的破坏影响。研究人员扩展了他们过去的研究，记录了夏威夷特有的豆娘蝇在颜色上的壮观变化，包括发现性别和种群颜色的变化与每种性别的太阳曝光量相关，这在不同的岛屿栖息地有很大差异。这两所瑞学院的本科生将协助研究和开发课程材料，并举办一场探索自然界色彩的展览，从科学和艺术两方面进行探索。这个项目有助于我们理解基因到表型的映射，并测试关于色素沉着和抗氧化功能的新假说。研究人员将(1)确定身体颜色与紫外线暴露的关系，紫外线暴露随性别和物种特定的微生境而变化；(2)测试性选择是否可以解释生境和颜色的相关性；(3)将颜色变化与不同生境中的生存联系起来；以及(4)鉴定色素的化学特性，并确认其在许多种辐射中的抗氧化功能。对这种色素的抗氧化功能的直接测试为物种和性别之间的差异原因提供了一个新的视角，并为未来对颜色差异的研究奠定了基础，包括它的遗传基础，它在隐蔽中的作用，以及对颜色的选择与物种多样性中的基因流的作用。

Colors of male and female animals can be strikingly different, a condition usually explained by the advantages provided in attracting mates. However, the sexes may vary over a wide spectrum, from very different in color to identical, and in some species one sex can vary across typically male or female colors. This study tests whether colorful pigments function not as a visual mating signal, but rather as antioxidant protection against damaging effects of UV radiation. The researchers extend their past research documenting the spectacular variation in color in endemic Hawaiian damselflies, including the discovery that sexual and population variation in color is correlated with each sex's solar exposure, which varies substantially across different island habitats. Undergraduate students at both RUI institutions will assist in research and in developing curricular materials and an exhibition that explores color in nature, both scientifically and artistically. This project contributes to our understanding of genotype to phenotype mapping and tests a novel hypothesis about pigmentation and antioxidant function.The researchers will (1) identify how body color is correlated with UV exposure, which varies with sex and species-specific microhabitats; (2) test whether sexual selection can explain the habitat and color correlations; (3) connect color variation with survivorship in different habitats, and (4) identify pigment chemical identity and confirm its antioxidant function across many species of the radiation. A direct test of the pigment's antioxidant function provides a new perspective on the causes of variation between species and sexes, and sets the stage for future studies on color variation, including its genetic basis, its role in crypsis, and the role of selection on color vs. gene flow in species diversification.