CAREER: Revisiting the operation of mate acquisition

对许多动物来说，获得配偶是成功繁殖的最基本步骤之一。个体在获得配偶的数量上差异很大，因此，它们产生了多少后代。了解这种变异存在的原因以及它与生物体特征之间的联系，对于理解性别、种群和物种之间的变异是至关重要的。令人惊讶的是，科学家们常常无法预测在何种条件下会存在获得配偶的强烈差异，以及哪些特征会促进获得配偶。这项研究将从理论上和经验上确定一系列未被充分研究的影响配偶获得的生态因素，从而改变我们对动物如何成功繁殖的理解。首席研究员提出的教育活动将无缝地整合到项目中，并促进对不同的K-12学生和教师以及本科生和研究生的培训。增强对配偶获取的理解需要我们1)确定影响交配的各种因素的相对重要性，2)评估这些影响如何在自然界中表现出来，以及3)将理论预测与经验数据结合起来，以探索我们对配偶获取运作的理解程度。为了实现这些目标，PI将采用一种综合的方法，利用经验和理论工具，1)评估资源可用性、机会、生活史和更深入研究的因素对交配动态的影响，2)经验探索这些因素与提高一系列鱼类交配成功率的表型性状之间的关系。学生将参与研究的各个方面，PI将领导K-12的外展活动。该项目还涉及芬兰、瑞士和英国的合作研究。支持国际部分的资金由国际科学与工程办公室提供。

Acquiring mates is one of the most fundamental steps to successfully reproducing in many animals. Individuals vary widely in how many mates they acquire, and as a result, how many offspring they produce. Understanding why such variation exists and how it is linked to traits of he organisms is essential for understanding variation between the sexes, populations, and species. Surprisingly, scientists are often unable to predict the conditions under which strong variation in mate acquisition will exist and which traits improve mate acquisition. This research will theoretically and empirically identify a range of understudied ecological factors that influence mate acquisition, thereby transforming our understanding of how animals successfully reproduce. The principle investigator's proposed educational activities will be integrated seamlessly into the project and facilitate training of diverse K-12 students and teachers, as well as undergraduate and graduate students.Enhanced understanding of mate acquisition necessitates that we 1) determine the relative importance of various factors affecting mating, 2) assess how such effects are manifested in nature, and 3) merge theoretical predictions with empirical data to explore how well we understand the operation of mate acquisition. To accomplish these goals, the PI will use an integrative approach that employs empirical and theoretical tools to 1) assess the effects of resource availability, chance, life history, and more well studied factors on mating dynamics and 2) empirically explore the relationship between such factors and phenotypic traits that increase mating success in a range of fish species. Students will be involved in all aspects of the research and the PI will lead K-12 outreach activities. The project also involves collaborative research in Finland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Funding supporting the international component was provided by the Office of International Science and Engineering.