DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Testing the role of red carotenoid coloration in copepod mate choice

红色是最普遍的动物信号形式之一。一方面，红色可能会由潜在伴侣在选择配偶时进行评估，红色最亮的人更有可能被选为配偶。在鸟类和鱼类等动物身上，有证据支持这一观点。另一方面，一些研究发现红色可能具有生理功能，例如，起到防晒霜的作用，提供对潜在破坏性太阳辐射的保护。这个项目使用肋足类，一种有着鲜艳红色的类似虾的小动物，来测试是否红色桡足类颜色是(1)配偶质量的信号，(2)防晒霜，还是(3)质量和防晒霜的信号。这项研究的结果将促进对尚未得到很好研究的动物群体中动物着色的基本理解。此外，研究人员将利用这一研究系统为阿拉巴马州四至六年级的儿童带来科学培训。通过一个结构良好的项目--深入表面(Guts)--来自美国一些最缺乏科学的学校系统的家长和孩子组成的团队将被邀请参加由教师运营的为期半天的项目。将运行两个项目，涉及相同的学生/家长团队。鲜红色的桡足类系统是吸引年轻学生注意力的理想选择，同时提供了使用显微镜和基本实验设计进行培训的机会。红色类胡萝卜素是动物中广泛存在的一种装饰形式，大量的经验数据表明，红色是个体素质和表现的真实信号。然而，最流行的脊椎动物系统清楚地展示了通过配偶选择来选择红色类胡萝卜素的颜色，不适合推进该领域所需的生理实验。该项目以虎脚类动物为模型，重点研究动物体内产生红色类胡萝卜素的生理制约因素。研究人员通过饮食控制来改变类胡萝卜素的颜色，并测试桡足类动物的红色是否被用作雄性和雌性配偶选择的视觉信号，或者红色是否起到了抵御紫外线辐射的保护作用。这项行为研究将为解释类胡萝卜素颜色产生的生理学研究创造关键的背景，并使人们能够更好地理解特别是桡足类动物和一般动物的红色颜色。

Red colors are among the most widespread forms of animal signals. On one hand, the red coloration may be assessed by potential partners during mate-choice, where individuals with the brightest red color are more likely to be chosen as a mate. Evidence supports this idea in animals such as birds and fish. On the other hand, some research has found that red color may have a physiological function, for example, acting as a sunscreen that offers protection from potentially damaging solar radiation. This project uses copepods, tiny shrimp-like animals with bright red colors, to test whether to examine if red copepod color is (1) a signal of mate quality, (2) a sunscreen, or (3) both a signal of quality and a sunscreen. The results of this research will advance the basic understanding of animal coloration in group of animals that has not been well studied. In addition, the researchers will use this study system to bring science training to Alabama children in fourth through sixth grade. Working through a well-structured program--Getting Under The Surface (GUTS)--teams of parents and children from some of the most science-deficient school systems in the U.S. will be invited to half-day programs run by faculty. Two programs will be run involving the same student/parent teams. The bright red copepod system is ideal for capturing the attention of younger students while offering opportunities for training with microscopes and basic experimental design. Red carotenoid coloration is a widespread form of ornamentation in animals and extensive empirical data show that red coloration is an honest signal of individual quality and performance. However, the most popular vertebrate systems that clearly demonstrate selection for red carotenoid coloration via mate choice are not suitable for the physiological experiments needed to advance the field. The project focuses on physiological constraints on the production of red carotenoids in animals, using Tigriopus copepods as a model. The researchers use diet manipulations to vary carotenoid coloration and to test whether red colors in copepods are used as a visual signal in male and female mate choice, or whether red coloration acts as a protectant against UV radiation. This behavioral research will create a critical context for interpreting physiological research on carotenoid color production and enable better of understanding red coloration in copepods in particular and animals in general.