Dissertation Research: Molecular Zoogeography and Systematics of the genus Gambusia

该项目的重点是鱼类的分子系统学和生物地理学(鲤形目，鲤科)。将从加勒比海岛屿、中美洲和美国东南部收集多达45个命名物种的样本，以检查系统发育和动物地理关系。电渗入和线粒体DNA限制性内切酶分析的结果将被用来构建该属的系统发育。这些数据将与形态信息相结合，以检查字符的一致性，到目前为止，形态信息在解决分类学方面尚无定论。将把动物地理证据与科学文献中提供的其他单系类群(单一祖先起源)的区域分支图进行比较，以检验加勒比地区假设的替代事件。这项工作将在奥本大学由查尔斯·利迪德在迈克尔·C·伍滕博士的指导下进行。

This project focuses on molecular systematics and biogeography of the fish genus Gambusia (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae). Samples of up to about 45 nominal species will be collected from Caribbean islands, Central America, and the southeastern United States in order to examine phylogenetic and zoogeographic relationships. Results from electophoresis and mitochondrial DNA restriction site analysis will be used to construct a phylogeny for the genus. These data are to be combined with morphological information, which thus far has been inconclusive in resolving taxonomy, to examine character congruence. Zoogeographic evidence will be compared to area cladograms constructed for other monophyletic taxa (of a single ancestral origin) available in the scientific literature in order to test hypothesized vicariant events in the Caribbean region. The work will be performed at Auburn University by Charles Lydeard under the direction of Dr. Michael C. Wooten.