Doctoral Dissertation Research: Rhesus macaque canine dimorphism in evolutionary context

在许多灵长类动物中，雄性的犬齿比雌性大得多，这种特征被称为犬的两性二态性。在人类中，男性和女性的犬齿在大小上非常相似（单形）。这个博士研究项目调查了一种模式灵长类动物中大型雄性犬齿的进化和功能，以更好地理解二态性的潜在选择压力，并使用比较数据来理解为什么人类进化中失去了这一特征。该项目为纽约和波多黎各的本科生和研究生提供实地考察和数据分析方面的培训机会。本研究将整合形态学、遗传学和行为学数据，以验证大型雄性犬是灵长类动物性选择的信号和/或武器的假设。本项目还探讨了犬体型进化的机制（遗传和选择）。该项目将收集犬类体型的数据，以研究犬类体型是如何遗传的，以及犬类体型是否能预测繁殖成功率。她还将进行实地实验，以确定雄性和雌性是否会注意到雄性犬的大小差异。最后，她将把犬的大小数据与行为数据结合起来，评估犬的大小是否能预测雄性之间打斗的发生和结果。该项目的结果将有助于了解犬类二态性进化和人类这种特征丧失背后的机制。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In many primate species, males have much larger canines than do females, a character known as canine sexual dimorphism. In humans, the canines of males and females are very similar in size (monomorphic). This doctoral research project investigates the evolution and function of large male canine teeth in a model primate species to better understand potential selection pressures for dimorphism, and to use as comparative data to understand why the loss of this feature evolved in humans. This project provides training opportunities in both fieldwork and data analysis for undergraduate and graduate students in New York and Puerto Rico. This study will integrate morphological, genetic, and behavioral data to test the hypothesis that large male canines are a sexually selected signal and/or weapon in primates. This project also explores mechanisms of canine size evolution (heritability and selection). The Co-PI will collect data on canine size to investigate how canine size is inherited and whether canine size predicts reproductive success. She will also conduct field experiments to determine if males and females attend to differences in male canine size. Finally, she will integrate canine size data with behavioral data to assess whether canine size predicts the occurrence and outcome of fights between males. The results of this project will contribute knowledge about the mechanisms behind both the evolution of canine dimorphism and the loss of this character 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.