Experimental evolution of trait interactions under changed environments

该项目旨在使用实验室和野生孔雀鱼种群中改变的光线来直接测试以下问题：哪些特征进化得快或慢，这如何取决于它们的功能相互作用，以及相同环境挑战的不同解决方案进化的频率？环境变化对基因调控和性状间功能相互作用的进化影响几乎是未知的。利用进化实验，该项目旨在探索与已知功能联系的特征：视蛋白基因调节模式(颜色视觉)、颜色和基于颜色的选择。据估计，植被的变化会立即引起环境变化，直接影响动物选择配偶、觅食和避免捕食的能力。

This project aims to use altered light in laboratory and wild guppy populations to test directly the following questions: which traits evolve quickly or slowly and how does this depend upon their functional interactions, and how often do different solutions to the same environmental challenges evolve? The evolutionary effects of environmental change on gene regulation and functional interactions among traits are virtually unknown. Using evolution experiments, this project aims to explore traits with known functional links: opsin gene regulation patterns (for colour vision), colouration, and colour-based choice. It is expected that vegetation changes cause immediate environment changes, directly affecting animals’ abilities to choose mates, forage, and avoid predation.