Bio 294F: Graduate Zoology Seminar

 

Topic: Alternative Reproductive Strategies (Fall 2009)

Instructor: Dr. Ron Coleman

Discussion: Monday 5:30 to 6:20 pm (1 hour)

We will be working through the book "Alternative Reproductive Tactics: An Integrative Approach" (Edited by Rui Oliveira, Michael Taborsky and H. Jane Brockmann). Alternative reproductive tactics include some of the most amazing forms of behavior in organisms, e.g. sneaker males, and so on. Recent work has identified and studied these sorts of behaviors in a vast array of organims ranging from flies to fish to mammals.

Text: Oliveira, R., M. Taborsky & H.J. Brockmann (2008) Alternative Reproductive Tactics: An Integrative Approach. Cambridge University Press, New York. Required.

Here is a mini-review of the text:

The study of alternative reproductive tactics (the behavioural strategies used by individuals to increase their reproductive success) is an evolutionary puzzle, and one of great interest to researchers. For instance, why do some males guard both nest and eggs, while others sneak into nests while pairs are spawning and fertilise those eggs? The field offers a special opportunity to study the evolution and functional causes of phenotypic variation, which is a general problem in the field of evolutionary biology. By integrating both mechanistic (psychological) and evolutionary (behavioural ecology) perspectives and by covering a great diversity of species, Alternative Reproductive Tactics addresses this integrated topic of longstanding interest, bringing together a multitude of otherwise scattered information in an accessible form that is ideal for graduate students and researchers.

Contents

Preface Rui F. Oliveira, Michael Taborsky and H. Jane Brockmann; 1. The evolution of alternative mating tactics: concepts and questions Michael Taborsky, Rui F. Oliveira and H. Jane Brockmann; Part I. Ultimate Causes and Origins of ARTs: 2. Alternative reproductive tactics and the evolution of alternative allocation phenotypes H. Jane Brockmann and Michael Taborsky; 3. Phylogenetic analysis of alternative reproductive tactics - Problems and possibilities Vítor C. Almada and Joana I. Robalo; 4. Modeling alternative mating tactics as dynamic games Jeffrey R. Lucas and Richard D. Howard; Part II. Proximate Mechanisms of ARTs: 5. The roles of genes and the environment in the expression and evolution of alternative tactics Douglas J. Emlen; 6. Neuroendocrine mechanisms of alternative reproductive tactics: the chemical language of reproductive and social plasticity Andrew H. Bass and Paul M. Forlano; 7. Hormones and alternative reproductive tactics in vertebrates Rui F. Oliveira, Adelino V. M. Canario and Albert F. H. Ros; Part III. Taxonomic Reviews of ARTs: 8. Alternative reproductive tactics in insects H. Jane Brockmann; 9. The expression of crustacean mating strategies Stephen M. Shuster; 10. Alternative reproductive tactics in fish Michael Taborsky; 11. Alternative reproductive tactics in amphibians Kelly R. Zamudio and Lauren M. Chan; 12. Alternative reproductive tactics in reptiles Ryan Calsbeek and Barry Sinervo; 13. Alternative reproductive tactics in birds Oliver Krüger; 14. Alternative reproductive tactics in nonprimate male mammals Jerry O. Wolff; 15. Alternative reproductive tactics in primates Joanna M. Setchell; Part IV. Emerging Perspectives on ARTs: 16. Communication and the evolution of alternative reproductive tactics David Gonçalves, Rui F. Oliveira and Peter K. McGregor; 17. Alternative mating tactics and mate choice for good genes or good care Brian Neff; 18. Conflict between the sexes and alternative reproductive tactics within a sex Suzanne H. Alonzo; 19. Cooperative breeding as an alternative reproductive tactic Walter D. Koenig and Janis L. Dickinson; 20. Integrating mechanisms and function: prospects for future research H. Jane Brockmann, Rui Oliveira and Michael Taborsky.

Contributors

Rui F. Oliveira, Michael Taborsky, H. Jane Brockmann, Vítor C. Almada, Joana I. Robalo, Jeffrey R. Lucas, Richard D. Howard, Douglas J. Emlen, Andrew H. Bass, Paul M. Forlano, Adelino V. M. Canario, Albert F. H. Ros, Stephen M. Shuster, Kelly R. Zamudio, Lauren M. Chan, Ryan Calsbeek, Barry Sinervo, Jerry O. Wolff, Joanna M. Setchell, David Gonçalves, Peter K. McGregor, Brian Neff, Suzanne H. Alonzo, Walter D. Koenig, Janis L. Dickinson

Schedule

Date	Who	Topic
Aug 31	Ron	Course Introduction
Sep 7		no class - labor day
Sep 14	Ron	Ch 1 & 2: Intro to Alternative Reproductive Strategies
Sep 21	Angela	Ch 8 & 9: Insects & Crustaceans
Sep 28	Kelly	Ch 3: Phylogenetics
Oct 5	Yuki	Ch 5: The role of genes and the environment
Oct 12	Jeff	Ch 6 & 7: Neuroendocrine and hormonal factors
Oct 19	Karen	Ch 14&15: mammals
Oct 26	Kasie & Rich	Ch 10: fishes
Nov 2	Mike	Ch 11: amphibians
Nov 9	Lily & Gina	Ch 12&13: Reptiles & birds
Nov 16	Kevin	Ch 19: Emerging issues (I)
Nov 23		no class - furlough
Nov 30		no class - furlough
Dec 7	Shannon	Emerging issues (II)

Extra Resources

Gross, M.R. 1984. Sunfish, salmon, and the evolution of alternative reproductive strategies and tactics in fishes. In: Fish Reproduction: Strategies and Tactics (Wootton, R. and G. Potts, eds.) London: Academic Press Pp. 55-75.

 

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