DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Effects of Genetic Structure on Phenotypic Adaptation in South American Annual Killifishes

9623578将利用线粒体基因序列的变异来分析一组生活在季节性潮湿环境中的南美洲一年生鱼类的拉尔森地理结构。表型变异与分子遗传变异相关，以及对现存环境的局部适应解释生活史特征变异的分布模式的假设将得到检验。通过以统计严格的方式研究分子遗传变异的分布，将有可能确定种群之间的表型差异是否反映了历史事件或当前的局部适应。由该奖项资助的研究应该会提高对在经历快速、通常是随机波动的环境中生存的因素的理解。研究结果还将具有潜在的广泛应用意义。在正常情况下，临时水体会成为蚊子的繁殖地；因此，剑鱼因其独特的生存能力，在其栖息地完全干燥后，被誉为理想的蚊子控制剂。通过了解哪些种群最有可能在特定的栖息地取得成功，就有可能最大限度地发挥千里鱼作为成功的蚊子控制剂的好处。

9623578 Larson Geographic structuring of a group of South American annual fishes which inhabit seasonally wet environments will be analyzed using variation in mitochondrial DNA sequences. Hypotheses that phenotypic variation is correlated with molecular genetic variation, and that local adaptation to extant environments explains distributional patterns of variation in life history traits will be tested. By studying the distribution of molecular genetic variation in a statistically rigorous manner, it will be possible to determine whether phenotypic differences among populations reflect historical events or current local adaptations. Research funded by this award should improve the understanding of factors responsible for survival in environments experiencing rapid, often stochastic fluctuations. Results will also have potentially broad applied significance. Under normal conditions, temporary bodies of water become a breeding ground for mosquitoes; thus killifish, due to their unique ability to survive complete desiccation of their habitat, have been lauded as the ideal mosquito control agents. By understanding which populations are most likely to succeed in a given habitat, it will be possible to maximize the benefits of killifish as successful mosquito control agents.