Dissertation Research: A Phylogenetic Assessment of Biogeography and Character Evolution in the Mammalian Subfamily Antelopinae

小行星9423684 将使用DNA序列数据建立哺乳动物Antelopinae亚科（偶蹄目：牛科）内的系统发育关系。 由此产生的分支图将与现代比较方法结合使用，以解决以前提出的系统，地理和适应假说的羚羊进化。 具体目标包括：1）在几个等级水平上测试单系性，包括Antelopinae亚科、Antilopini和Neotragini部落以及Gazella属的单系性，2）确定有争议的亚洲属Panthalops和Saiga相对于多个牛科外群的位置，3）确定Antelopinae的地理起源和非洲与欧亚大陆之间的迁移方向，（4）验证雌性角的存在是一种适应混合性别畜群生活的假设。 %%% 这项研究将重新评估目前的理论羚羊进化的系统发育框架。这项研究解决了哺乳动物地理学和适应性方面长期存在的问题。 ***

9423684 Templeton Phylogenetic relationships within the mammalian subfamily Antelopinae (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) will be established using DNA sequence data. The resulting cladogram will then be used in conjunction with modern comparative methods to address previously proposed systematic, biogeographic and adaptationalist hypotheses about antelope evolution. Specific objectives include: 1) testing monophyly at several hierarchical levels including monophyly of the subfamily Antelopinae, the tribes Antilopini and Neotragini, and the genus Gazella, 2) determining the position of the controversial Asian genus Panthalops and Saiga relative to multiple bovid outgroups, 3) determining the geographic origin of the Antelopinae and the direction of migration between Africa and Eurasia, and 4) testing hypotheses that the presence of horns in females arose one and is an adaptation for life in mixed sex herds. %%% This study will re-evaluate current theories of antelope evolution using a phylogenetic framework. The research addresses long standing problems in mammalian biogeography and adaptation. ***