Systematics of Iguanian Lizards (Squamata, Reptilia): Integration of Molecular and Morphological Evidence

这是一项为期五年的伊瓜尼亚蜥蜴系统研究。形态学和分子特征将用于研究棘虫科、多虫科、变色龙科和基虫胺之间的关系。三个线粒体基因（16S rRNA，细胞色素c氧化酶亚基I和细胞色素c氧化酶亚基III）将被测序，以研究更多最近的分歧。涉及较早谱系差异的关系将使用核单拷贝基因的核苷酸序列来确定。将对分子研究中使用的同一分类群进行详细的比较形态学研究，并使用几种分析方法评估每种数据的内在质量和信息。伊瓜尼亚蜥蜴代表了一个生物多样性的脊椎动物群体，新世界的科（主要发生在南美洲）比旧大陆的同类（以马达加斯加的分类群为代表）要多样化得多。这种多学科方法的研究结果将为了解世界不同地区的相关类群的分子和形态变化提供一个框架。从这项研究中获得的整体变化模式也可以为理解世界生物群中这一重要组成部分的生态学、生理学和行为提供基础。

This is a five year study of the systematics of Iguanian lizards. Both morphological and molecular characters will be used to address the relationships within the Tropiduridae, Polychrotidae, Chamaeleonidae, and basal agamines. Three mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III) will be sequenced in a effort to investigate more recent divergences. Relationships involving older lineage divergences will be determined using nucleotide sequences from nuclear single-copy genes. Detailed comparative morphological studies will be conducted on the same taxa used in the molecular study, and the intrinsic qualities and information of each kind of data will be evaluated using several analytical approaches. %%% Iguanian lizards represent a biologically diverse group of vertebrates, with the New World families (occurring primarily in South America) being considerably more diverse than their Old World counterparts (represented by taxa in Madagascar). The results from this multidisciplinary approach to understanding the diversity of this group of vertebrates will provide a framework for understanding molecular and morphological change in a related group of taxa located in different regions of the World. The overall pattern of variation obtained from this study can also provide a basis for understanding the ecology, physiology, and behavior of this important component of the World's biota.