Charel ReulandPhD
Om mig
In the animal kingdom, reproduction, that is passing one ones genetic makeup to the future generation, is key. Yet, given that animals share this common ultimate goal, the ways to reach it are vastly different among species, populations, sexes, and even conspecifics of the same sex. Mate choice before and after mating, competition before and after mating, and different allocations to sexually selected traits are just a handful of exemplary mechanisms that are used to varying degrees by individuals.
When is it best for an individual to invest in one specific mechanism? What role does for example the social context play in making investing in one particular mechanism particularly beneficiary or disadvantageous? How does allocation of resources into one sexually selected trait trade-off with other traits?
In my PhD-project, I investigate these interplays between the mechanisms of sexual selection. I address these questions experimentally using halfbeak fishes, a small live-bearing fish native to the freshwater of Southeast Asia that displays a wide range of sexually selected adaptations, such as ornaments, overt fighting within the sexes and multiple mating. Lastly, while addressing these broad questions surrounding the agents of sexual selection, I hope to advance with my project our knowledge on the social structure and dynamics of halfbeak populations.
