Objective
The evolution of multiple-mating by females (polyandry) represents a fundamental problem in behavioural ecology, because, while costs are generally assumed to be large, clear benefits have remained elusive. This is in spite of polyandry having substantial implications for the conflict of interests between the sexes, sexual selection and speciation. The problem is acute in the social insects because their particular biology means that many hypothesised benefits are unlikely to apply to them and the behaviour is most probably associated with greater direct and evolutionary costs than in non-social animals. Yet accurate data on the costs of polyandry in social insects are almost completely lacking, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the decision to engage in polyandry or whether females can express mate choice, and one of the best supported hypotheses for polyandry in non-social animals, that it reduces the fitness costs of genetically incompatible matings, has never been investigated in social insects. The project will use the honeybee as the model organism to address these key knowledge gaps. Honeybees are one of the few social insects in which the costs of polyandry can be accurately quantified, and this will be one of the main objectives of the project. Honeybees are also one of the few species where artificial insemination techniques are available and these will be used together with natural matings to examine the mechanisms underlying the decision of queens to remate. In addition, the question of whether or not females are able to express either pre- or postcopulatory mate choice will be examined along with the fitness implications of a lack of choice. In addition to providing insight into the evolution of polyandry, the results will also be useful to the apiculture industry by suggesting ways in which the success of queen matings may be improved.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine gynaecology reproductive medicine
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology apidology
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences behavioural ecology
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science apiculture
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call
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.
OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships
Coordinator
SHEFFIELD
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.