Dissertation Research: Morphological Versus Molecular Data in Reconstructing Phylogeny of Picinae

论文研究：形态学与分子数据重建青蟹亚科系统发育

• 批准号: 8800934
• 负责人: John Graham
• 金额: $ 0.55万
• 依托单位: Wayne State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1988
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1988-06-01 至 1990-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8800934&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Morphological; Versus; Molecular

The development of molecular biology and digital computers has enabled biologists to reconstruct evolutionary history (phylogenies) with greatly improved accuracy and precision. Moreover, by studying morphological, behavioral, ecological and physiological characteristics of species with a reliable phylogeny as a backdrop, one can come to understand the processes that determined their evolution. The proposed research is a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of North American woodpeckers based on computer analysis of molecular data. The woodpeckers have undergone rapid evolution in North America resulting in many species with varying and complex adaptations. In addition, the geographic distribution of the many species is similar to that of many other groups of North American animals and plants; these common patterns result from the history of episodic glaciation during the Pleistocene Ice Age. This study will serve as a model for understanding that complex geological epoch that is so important to the formation of the fauna and flora of the United States.

分子生物学和数字计算机的发展使生物学家能够以大大提高的准确性和精确性重建进化历史（系统发育）。 此外，通过以可靠的系统发育为背景研究物种的形态、行为、生态和生理特征，人们可以了解决定其进化的过程。 拟议的研究是基于分子数据的计算机分析重建北美啄木鸟的进化历史。 啄木鸟在北美经历了快速进化，产生了许多具有不同且复杂的适应能力的物种。 此外，许多物种的地理分布与北美许多其他动植物群的地理分布相似；这些常见的模式是更新世冰河时期间歇性冰川作用历史的结果。 这项研究将作为理解复杂地质时期的模型，该时期对于美国动植物群的形成非常重要。