Dissertation Research: The Role of Adaptation in Structuring Communities: A Study of Larval Anuran Communities

论文研究：适应在构建群落中的作用：幼虫阿努拉群落的研究

• 批准号: 9700877
• 负责人: Mark McPeek
• 金额: $ 1万
• 依托单位: Dartmouth College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-06-01 至 1999-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9700877&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Role; Adaptation; Structuring

McPeek 9700877 This project is designed to understand the evolutionary history of how different groups of frogs have adapted to their environment. Different species of frogs are presently found in different types of ponds: permanent ponds with fish, permanent ponds without fish, vernal ponds that dry yearly. Closely related species in three frog families (toads (Bufonidae), true frogs (Ranidae), tree frogs (Hylidae)) segregate among these pond types. For example, the green frog and the bullfrog evolved from a common ancestor, yet green frogs are found only in ponds without fish, and bullfrogs are found primarily in ponds with fish. Previous research has revealed that different predators and competition for food cause this segregation of species. By quantifying traits related to how well tadpoles evade predators and compete with other species, this project will determine which traits are essential for successfully inhabiting each pond type. Study of the relationships between these traits, pond type and the evolutionary history of species, will also reveal the role of adaptation (acquiring traits that increase survivorship in a new habitat) in forming the present-day frog fauna. This project is important to furthering our understanding of factors that influence the ability of species to utilize a new habitat.

McPeek 9700877 该项目旨在了解不同青蛙群体如何适应其环境的进化历史。不同种类的青蛙目前在不同类型的池塘中发现：有鱼的永久池塘，没有鱼的永久池塘，每年干涸的春季池塘。在三个青蛙家庭（蟾蜍（蟾蜍科），真正的青蛙（蛙科），树蛙（雨蛙科））的密切相关的物种分离这些池塘类型。例如，绿色青蛙和牛蛙是从一个共同的祖先进化而来的，但绿色青蛙只在没有鱼的池塘中发现，牛蛙主要在有鱼的池塘中发现。 先前的研究表明，不同的捕食者和食物竞争导致了物种的分离。 通过量化与蝌蚪如何逃避捕食者和与其他物种竞争有关的特征，该项目将确定哪些特征对于成功栖息在每个池塘类型中至关重要。研究这些特征、池塘类型和物种进化历史之间的关系，也将揭示适应（获得在新栖息地增加生存率的特征）在形成当今青蛙动物群中的作用。 这个项目对于进一步了解影响物种利用新栖息地能力的因素非常重要。