Doctoral Dissertation Research: Physiological mechanisms affecting non-human primate mate choice

在许多哺乳动物中，雄性的特征和行为可能会限制雌性的配偶选择。然而，观察到的配偶选择和实际父亲身份之间的差异表明，雌性可能通过生理偏好对后代的父亲身份产生影响。这个博士论文项目将探索遗传学和生理学如何影响灵长类动物的选择，产生关于灵长类生殖生理学的新数据。该项目还将为STEM领域中代表性不足群体的学生提供野外、实验室、生物信息学和统计方法方面的指导和培训。本研究将探索橄榄狒狒在繁殖后进行配偶选择的生理机制。联合PI将收集男性和女性的生殖生理数据。社会行为也将被记录下来，以调查生育前和生育后的选择之间的一致性。这项研究将提高对灵长类繁殖后选择机制的理解，并为理解人类独特的生殖和形态特征提供更广泛的灵长类比较背景。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In many mammals, male characteristics and behaviors may limit female mate choice. Discrepancies between observed mate choice and actual paternity suggest, however, that females may exert influence over offspring paternity through physiological preference. This doctoral dissertation project will explore how genetics and physiology influence primate mate choice, generating novel data on primate reproductive physiology. The project also will provide mentorship and training in field, laboratory, bioinformatics and statistical methods for students from groups under-represented in STEM fields.This study will explore physiological mechanisms by which olive baboons may exert post-breeding mate choice. The co-PI will collect reproductive physiological data for both males and females. Social behaviors will also be recorded to investigate the concordance between pre- and post-breeding choice. This study will improve understanding of post-breeding mechanisms of choice in primates and inform the broader primate comparative context for understanding the unique suite of reproductive and morphological characteristics seen in humans.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.