Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Sexual selection has been widely studied, but it remains controversial, partly because its definition is contentious, and the foundations of the theory are still largely untested. While many components of sexual selection have been clarified, most studies focus mainly on insects and birds and are mostly male-centered. Ultimately, we need similar evidence from females, and from other taxa, including mammals, for which theoretical and experimental work is lacking. Mammals are diverse, exhibiting various reproductive strategies and mating behaviours; however, they are underrepresented in the sexual selection literature. Examining sexual selection across multiple taxa will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of this evolutionary process across species and ecological contexts. Furthermore, some significant unresolved issues persist, including elucidating the mechanisms that favour conspicuous secondary sex ornaments and signals, comprehending the evolution of female preferences and understanding the evolution of mating systems. My research program will test the key predictions of mating systems theory, including the underlying mechanisms of sexual selection. Building on more than 18 years of experience working on the reproduction ecology of a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) population, my research team will address the above-mentioned gap to move the field forward. Over the next 5 years, we will: (1) quantify to what extent female reindeer are polyandrous, and test for postcopulatory sexual selection and the fitness benefits and costs of female multiple mating; (2) determine whether some acoustic parameters of reindeer male rutting vocalizations encode information on physical attributes of the sender (intrasexual selection and intersexual selection); and (3) determine how the intensity of competition influences female mating strategies. My research program uses a combination of approaches including manipulative experiments, long-term individual based demographic data, and observational field work, to test fundamental aspects of mating systems theory that is also relevant to the fields of ecology and evolution. The proposed research will enhance our understanding of the evolution of mating systems while shedding light on critical aspects of the overlooked role of females in sexual selection. Our work has direct management implications; for example, reindeer herders should be able to use our results on sperm quality when selecting breeding males. The project will also contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel (3 PhD, 3 MSc and at least 5 BSc) in behavioural ecology, evolutionary ecology, as well as wildlife conservation and management. In addition, the students will gain invaluable field experience in the circumpolar North within an international environment.