Dissertation Research: Evolution and Endocrinology of Accelerated Metamorphosis

PIs的研究考察了沙漠两栖动物快速变态的进化及其激素控制。新世界掌足蟾蜍生活在美国的沙漠中，在短暂的池塘中繁殖，它们在不到两周的时间内迅速蜕变，这对避免干燥很重要。与新大陆蟾类最近的近亲是欧洲、亚洲和北非的旧大陆蟾类和欧芹蛙，它们不知道有快速变态。pi将确定掌足蟾蜍快速变态的进化起源，并阐明允许其进化的激素机制。这项研究首次研究了两栖动物在沙漠中生存的关键适应生理——快速变态。pi将自然史、系统发育分析和实验生理学整合到进化的视角中。

PI: HAYES 9800886 The PIs study examines the evolution of rapid metamorphosis and its hormonal control in desert-adapted amphibians. New World spadefoot toads live in American deserts and breed in ephemeral pools where their extremely rapid metamorphosis in less than two weeks is important to avoid desiccation. The closest relatives to the New World spadefoot toads are the Old World spadefoot toads and parsley frogs of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and are not known to have rapid metamorphosis. The PIs will determine the evolutionary origin of rapid metamorphosis in spadefoot toads and elucidate the hormonal mechanism that allowed for its evolution. This research is the first to examine the physiology of a key-adaptation for amphibian desert survival -- rapid metamorphosis. The PIs are integrating natural history, phylogenetic analysis, and experimental physiology into an evolutionary perspective.