Patrice is a researcher in Evolutionary Biology and Behavioural Ecology, based in the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), and is interested in how sexual selection influences the evolution of male and female reproductive traits.
Her research thus far has concentrated on cryptic female choice - a form of post copulation sexual selection. To explore this poorly understood form of sexual selection, Patrice has used an externally fertilising species the New Zealand Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) as the model species.
The exciting results of this research show that:
(1) ovarian fluid (a viscous fluid that surrounds the egg batch) influences sperm behaviour and hence could be a mechanism of cryptic female choice and
(2) these results have now lead the way for further investigation to uncover the genetic bases for cryptic female choice in an externally fertilising species.
To learn more about Patrice's research, visit her page on the University of Canterbury's website.
Contact Details:
Telephone: +64 3 364 2500
Fax: +64 3 364 2590
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Postal address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
Recent publications
Patrice Rosengrave. (2010). Ejaculate traits and ovarian fluid as a potential mechanism for cryptic female choice in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Patrice Rosengrave, Harry Taylor, Victoria Metcalf, Katherine McBride, Robert Montgomerie and Neil J. Gemmell (2009). Chemical composition of seminal and ovarian fluids of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and their effects on sperm motility traits. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: 152 (1)123-129.
Patrice Rosengrave, Robert Montgomerie, Victoria. J. Metcalf, Katherine McBride and Neil. J. Gemmell (2009). Sperm traits in chinook salmon depend upon activation medium: implications for studies of sperm competition in fishes. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 87:920-927.
Patrice Rosengrave, Neil J. Gemmell, Victoria Metcalf, Katherine McBride and Robert Montgomerie(2008). A mechanism for cryptic female choice in chinook salmon.Behavorial Ecology, 19 (6)1179-1185.