Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/C513526/1

Mutability and the precision of sex ratio behaviour.

Principal Investigator:: Professor S West, University of Edinburgh, Inst of Evolutionary Biology
Grant held at:: University of Edinburgh, Inst of Evolutionary Biology

ENRIs:: Biodiversity
Science Topics:: Population Genetics/Evolution; Population Ecology; Behavioural Ecology

Abstract:: How 'perfect' should a behaviour be? There is little doubt that, given sufficient time, and genetic variation, natural selection can produce organisms with startlingly precise adaptations to their surroundings. However, various factors constrain the evolution of perfectly adaptive behaviours, including complex genetics, deleterious mutations and species or developmental history. Determining the relative importance of these factors remains a major challenge for biology. We will estimate the importance of one of these fundamental constraints - mutation. Every generation, deleterious mutations shift traits away from their perfect value. The importance of this depends upon the rate of mutation (mutability) and the fitness consequences of variation in that trait. Our proposed work is to estimate the mutability in a model trait where we already have an excellent understanding of the fitness consequences of variation. Our trait is offspring sex ratios in parasitic wasps. Our proposed work has an amazing capacity to produce clear results with minimum work and resources. The reasons for this are: (a) the time consuming and costly mutation accumulation required has already been carried out as part of another project; (b) we already have an excellent understanding of offspring sex ratios from theory, lab experiments and field observations; (c) we are already carrying out the required complementary research in our lab.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £30,674

Total - Staff	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs
£20,167	£1,230	£9,277

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