Objective
A fundamental aim in biology is to understand the (co)evolutionary dynamics of the adaptive reproductive strategies that translate ecology into evolution. However, until now, it has not been possible to explicitly test key hypotheses explaining the evolution of major reproductive strategies in wild populations experiencing real-life ecological variation. I will revolutionise our understanding of the (co)evolution of two fundamental reproductive strategies, and our approach to achieving such understanding, by deriving entirely new evolutionary quantitative genetic theory and providing the first explicit tests of this theory in nature.
Genetic polyandry (female reproduction with multiple males) and inbreeding (reproduction among relatives) are fundamental reproductive strategies that profoundly influence the social, genetic and genomic structures of populations. Yet decades of research have failed to explain their (co)evolution and persistence in the face of sexually antagonistic selection. Current theory is inadequate because it does not consider ecology or coevolution or make critical quantitative predictions that permit definitive test of key hypotheses in wild populations. Key forces of direct and indirect selection on genetic variation underlying polyandry and inbreeding have consequently never been explicitly estimated.
I will derive new theory that defines the (co)evolution of polyandry and inbreeding in terms of sex-specific genetic (co)variances, thereby providing the conceptual advance required to drive a new generation of empirical test. I will estimate these genetic (co)variances through state-of-the-art quantitative genetic analysis of outstanding wild population data, thereby providing the first explicit tests of key hypotheses explaining the (co)evolution of polyandry and inbreeding in nature. I will thereby initiate and implement a new approach to understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies and answer long-standing questions in biology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences evolutionary biology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2012-StG_20111109
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
AB24 3FX Aberdeen
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.