Intersexual arms races - are individuals within marine meta-populations less able to interbreed than assumed? [ 2003-01-01 - 2004-12-31 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Craig Styan (Chief Investigator)

Brief description Intersexual arms races - are individuals within marine meta-populations less able to interbreed than assumed? A meta-population structure is thought to describe the inter-connected nature of many populations of marine animals with dispersive larvae. However, new theory predicts some of these populations might be not very inter-connected at all, despite larval migration. In some circumstances, independent, co-evolutionary arms races between sexes might develop within local populations, resulting in individuals becoming increasingly less able to interbreed freely. I will directly test for this, measuring how successfully broadcast spawners can cross-fertilise across populations. This will reveal the genetic structure of these populations and if these animals really do live in a meta-population.

Funding Amount $60,000

Funding Scheme Discovery Projects

View this grant in the ARC Data Portal