Evolution and Mechanisms of Social Behaviour

查尔斯·达尔文（Charles Darwin）发现，蚂蚁和蜜蜂中不育帮助者阶层的存在，很难与他强调繁殖自身利益的自然选择理论相协调。事实上，生物学中一些最重要和最持久的问题都集中在合作和复杂社会行为的进化上。尽管有了经验和理论工作的分水岭，我们仍然缺乏共识，为什么社会性首先进化，什么分子和神经基质促进了它的进化。为了更好地理解社会行为是如何进化的，我们需要了解其潜在机制。***在过去的5年里，我的团队（水生行为生态学实验室，ABEL）通过研究社会决策、合作和冲突解决策略，对我们对社会性的理解做出了实质性的贡献。我们使用了3种模型鱼类系统（坦噶尼喀鲷、圆虾虎鱼和平鳍鱼），因为这些物种的社会特征很好。我们的研究结合了控制实验室实验和实地研究的生态有效性来研究复杂的社会行为。在这个提案中概述的研究扩展了我之前关于社会性进化的研究。利用这三种鱼类模型系统，我将解决以下问题：为什么一些个体或物种比其他个体或物种更具社会性？物种之间是否存在保守的遗传或行为“社会性特征”？社会因素（如同地域密度）和物理因素（如污染物、资源密度）如何影响社会纽带的强度？我的长期研究目标是回答这些问题，拓宽我们对复杂社会行为的理解，并阐明物种生活史、人口学、遗传学和生理学在社会性进化中所起的作用。本研究具有基础科学和应用科学的双重意义。从基础科学的角度来看，这项研究将对合作和群体行为进化背后的生态和机制提供更深入、更全面的理解。利用慈鲷，我们研究了形成社会表型所需的基本行为构建块，并研究了高级社会性是否存在共同的分子根源。从应用科学的角度来看，研究结果将有助于我们更好地理解物种入侵的过程，并阐明全球变化如何通过动物社会行为的变化影响生物多样性。总之，拟议的研究计划将有助于社会基因组学这一新兴学科的发展，促进北美、欧洲和非洲科学家和学生之间的知识国际转移，并有助于加强加拿大在鱼类、渔业和水生环境研究方面的领导地位。*** *** *** *** **

Charles Darwin found the existence of a sterile helper caste among ants and bees difficult to reconcile with his theory of natural selection, a theory that emphasizes reproductive self-interest. Indeed some of the most important and enduring questions in biology have centered on the evolution of cooperation and complex social behaviour. Despite a watershed of empirical and theoretical work, we still lack consensus on why sociality evolved in the first place, and what molecular and neural substrates facilitated its evolution. To better understand how social behaviour evolves, knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is needed.***Over the past 5 years, my group (the Aquatic Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, ABEL) has made substantial contributions to our understanding of sociality by studying social decision making, cooperation and conflict resolution strategies. We use 3 model fish systems (Tanganyikan cichlids, round goby, and plainfin midshipman) because the social repertoires of these species are well characterized. Our research combines controlled laboratory experiments with the ecological validity of field studies to study complex social behaviour. The research outlined in this proposal extends my previous research on the evolution of sociality. Using these three fish model systems, I will address the following questions: Why are some individuals or species more social than others? Is there a conserved genetic or behavioural “signature of sociality” across species? And, how do social (e.g. conspecific density) and physical (e.g. contaminants, resource density) factors influence the strength of social bonds? My long-term research aims are to answer these questions, to broaden our understanding of complex social behaviour, and to clarify the roles played by species life history, demography, genetics and physiology in the evolution of sociality. ***The research proposed has both basic and applied science significance. From a basic science perspective the research will provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the ecology and mechanisms underlying the evolution of cooperation and grouping behaviour. Using cichlid fishes we investigate the fundamental behavioural building blocks needed to make a social phenotype and investigate if there is a common molecular root for advanced sociality. From the applied science perspective, the research results will help us better understand the process of species invasion and shed light on how global change might influence biodiversity via changes in animal social behaviour. In summary, the proposed research program will contribute to the emerging discipline of sociogenomics, facilitate international transfer of knowledge among North American, European and African scientists and students, and serve to strengthen Canada's role as a leader in fish, fisheries and aquatic environmental research.*** *** *** *** **