Abstract
A two-way selection for clutch size with extensive cross fostering was started in 1996 on the island of Vlieland. This experiment should answer questions about the chromosomally and maternally inherited components of clutch size variation as well as the contribution of the juvenile environment on future clutch size. This experiment was started 4 years ago, because preliminary calculations showed that 6-8 years of data are necessary to give sufficient power for the detection of juvenile environmental effects on future clutch size. The preliminary results are encouraging. We apply for a PhD student to 1) continue the experiment and analyse its data and 2) to perform side-experiments that enhance the results with respect to causal mechanisms involved. To the best of my knowledge this is the first two-way artificial selection experiment on a life- history trait ever performed in a natural population, which is greatly enhanced by using extensive cross-fostering across trait groups of parents.
Netherlands