揭秘鸟类合作繁殖的进化:以青藏高原特有物种地山雀作为模式系统的一项长期努力

鸟类合作繁殖系统的进化机制是行为生态学和进化生态学领域的热点,许多基本理论问题依然悬而未决.青藏高原草甸荒漠气候恶劣、植被贫乏,是地球上独特的生态地理区域.自2004年以来,我们以此极端环境的特有物种地山雀(Parus humilis)为模式系统,探讨合作繁殖系统的特征和适应方式.在掌握合作系统基本结构的基础上,将继续进行长期数据的积累.通过比较帮助者和独立繁殖者的终生适合度,检验亲属选择理论;建立时空尺度上合作繁殖与气候因子的关系,揭露生态压力的作用机制;理清不同种群合作繁殖与婚外父权的关系,阐明遗传单配制作为合作繁殖行为进化的驱动力;联系外源与内源因素,确定合作繁殖物种种群动态的调节机理.地山雀社会系统的神秘需要研究者用不懈的努力去探索.

Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in Birds: A Long-Term Fieldwork with the Ground Tits Endemic to the Tibet Plateau as a Model System

Cooperative breeding in birds has been interesting to behavioral and evolutionary biologists as many basic questions associated with the mysterious phenomenon remain unsolved. The wasteland and meadow on the Tibetan plateau represent extremely harsh environments in the world. Since 2004, we have studied cooperative breeding behaviors of the ground tits Parus humilis endemic to the plateau. After knowing the basic structure of this species'' society, we are accumulating data to analyze lifetime fitness of helpers vs. independent breeders to test the kin-selection theory, cooperative breeding in relation to climate conditions to explore the mechanisms underlying ecological constraints, the relationship between cooperative breeding and extra-pair paternity across populations to elucidate genetic monogamy as the driver of helping behavior, and environmental conditions as extrinsic factors together with social interaction as intrinsic factors to give insight into population dynamics of avian cooperative breeders. Life-long efforts of researchers are required to uncover the mysteries of the ground tit society.