Ecological and evolutionary impacts of sexual dimorphism

性别差异是最常见的生物现象之一。然而，我们对两性二态性（同一物种雄性和雌性之间的特征差异）如何影响进化和生态（生态进化动力学）之间的特征反馈知之甚少。我的研究使用经济上重要的昆虫（传粉昆虫和害虫）来衡量人类引起的环境变化如何影响性选择（SS），从而影响性别差异，以及这些性别差异如何反馈影响生态和进化。在接下来的五年里，我的实验室将有三个研究目标：1：描述环境变化对两性二态现象的影响；2：确定两性二态现象的变化如何影响生态学；3：说明极端的两性二态现象如何影响进化过程。目的1测量男性和女性对环境应激反应的差异。我们将通过测量舞蝇和蚊子在城市梯度（城市中心到自然栖息地）中SS的共同相关因素（装饰、性别比例倾斜和性别大小二态性）来研究人为因素对SS的影响。我们还将在人口密度高和低的地区测量雌蚊对城市污染物和捕食压力的产卵偏好。性别差异如何影响生态？目标2阐述了性别差异（如由环境变化形成的差异）对生态过程的影响。在项目1中，我们将测量雄性和雌性蜻蜓在生命阶段的摄食行为和身体组成，以量化生活史中两性异形的微妙变化对生态的影响。第二个项目评估蚊子的性别二型猎物的脆弱性。我将量化不同性别蚊子幼虫的大小和运动的变化，并测量捕食者对一种性别或另一种性别的偏好。一个性别的强SS如何影响两性之间的共同进化动力？目标3建立在我之前的研究基础上，即对女性的强选择如何影响进化结果。我们将测量舞蝇（双翅目：舞蝇科）中雄性和雌性快速进化的结构（生殖器），以估计当雌性处于更强的选择中时，两性之间的进化速率和共同进化动力学。影响和培训-这些项目将代表我们对环境如何以不同方式影响性别以及性别差异如何影响生态和进化的理解取得重大进展。这些结果将对保护、城市规划和病虫害管理具有重要意义。重要的是，学员将在所有项目中发挥重要作用。我将招聘并提供各级学习（学士，硕士，博士，PDF）的培训。学员将获得多学科技术和专业培训的专业知识，以获得科学事业。

Sex differences are one of the most commonly observed biological phenomenon. Yet we know little about how sexual dimorphism (trait differences between males and females of the same species) contributes to characteristic feedbacks between evolution and ecology (eco-evolutionary dynamics). My research uses economically important insects (pollinators and pests) to measure how human-induced environmental change influences sexual selection (SS) to impact sex differences and how these sex differences feedback to influence ecology and evolution. In the next five years, my lab will address 3 research objectives: 1: Characterize the influence of environmental change on sexual dimorphism 2: Determine how variation in sexual dimorphism influences ecology 3: Illustrate how extreme sexual dimorphism affects evolutionary processes How does environmental variation affect sexual dimorphism? Objective 1 measures differences in male and female responses to environmental stressors. We will examine anthropogenic impacts on SS by measuring common correlates of SS (ornamentation, sex ratio skew and sexual size dimorphism) in dance flies and mosquitoes across an urban gradient (city centre to natural habitat). We will also measure female mosquito oviposition preferences in response to city pollutants and predation pressure in high and low human density areas. How do sex differences impact ecology? Objective 2 addresses the effect that sex differences (like those shaped by environmental change) can have on ecological processes. In project 1 we will measure feeding behaviours and body composition across life stages in male and female dragonflies to quantify the impact of subtle variation in sexual dimorphism across life history on ecology. The second project assesses sexually dimorphic prey vulnerability in mosquitoes. I will quantify variation in sex-specific mosquito larvae size and movement and measure predator preference for one sex or the other. How does strong SS on one sex impact co-evolutionary dynamics between the sexes? Objective 3 builds on my previous work into how strong selection on females can shape evolutionary outcomes. We will measure quickly evolving structures (genitalia) in males and females within and across dance flies (Diptera: Empidinae) to estimate rates of evolution and coevolution dynamics between the sexes when females are the sex under stronger selection. Impact and training - These projects will represent a major advance in our understanding of how environments can differently impact the sexes and how sex differences can shape ecology and evolution. These results will have important implications for conservation, urban planning and pest management. Importantly, trainees will play an important role in all projects. I will recruit and provide training at all levels of study (BSc, MSc, PhD, PDF). Trainees will gain expertise in a multidisciplinary suite of techniques and professional training to obtain careers in science.