亲本对野生猎隼子代性别比例的影响

Sex allocation is one of the hot spots in animal ecology because it has been attributed to the survival strategy, individual fitness and population dynamics. Conditional sex allocation theory suggests that parents should adjust their offspring sex ratio to maximize reproductive output along with the variations of environment and their own conditions. Raptors are unique for the research of sex allocation as most of them present a reverse sexual dimorphism (e.g. bigger females). We propose to conduct field surveys and genetic experiments, by collecting the feather samples and reproduction data of the saker falcon (Falco cherrug) population from the artificial nests that have already set up by our lab, so as to quantify the offspring sex ratio and its distribution in the studied population and examine impacts of parental factors on offspring sex ratio. We aim to explore the sex allocation strategy in the wild saker population and assess their current situation in the wild, which will provide key parameters for the conservation of wild sakers.

性别分配因涉及到物种生存策略、个体适合度以及种群动态等方面因素，一直都是动物生态学研究中的热点问题之一。性别分配理论认为，繁殖者应该根据外界环境和自身状态调整子代性比从而获得最大繁殖产出。猛禽因具有独特的反性别二态性特征，成为性比研究中一个特殊的类群。本项目在我们团队前期建立的野外巢箱样方的基础上，通过调查样方内猎隼(Falco cherrug)的繁殖数据和搜集羽毛样品，查明猎隼种群子代性比，分析子代性比在种群水平上的分布情况，探讨亲鸟对子代性比的影响，从而为了解该物种子代性别分配策略，评估野生种群现状，为该濒危物种的种群复壮和保护管理提供重要的生态学依据。

性别分配理论因涉及到物种生存策略、个体适合度、种群动态等方面因素，一直受研究者关注。性别分配理论认为，繁殖者会根据外界环境和自身状态调整子代性比以获得最大繁殖产出。本项目通过调查人工样方内的猎隼繁殖情况，收集遗传样品，掌握该地区猎隼种群的子代性比及分布情况，并探讨影响子代性比的主要因素。研究结果表明，猎隼种群子代性比在种群水平上和巢水平上均未显著偏离均衡比例，在年间和空间分布上呈现随机分布。亲鸟的繁殖经验、窝卵数、竞争压力及其交互效应对子代性比有显著影响。我们的研究有助于了解猛禽的性比分配策略，对种群现状评估、物种保护和种群复壮具有重要意义。