Phylogenetic Relationships and Evolution of Function in Labrid Fishes

9815614 WestneatLabridae家族的鱼类是一个多样化的群体，超过600种，生活在世界各地的珊瑚礁上。丰富的拉布拉多使它们成为珊瑚礁生态系统的一个组成部分，也是一种重要的经济资源。 虽然拉布拉多的生物学一直是深入研究的主题，但对它们的祖先-后代关系知之甚少。 这一建议要求支持使用结构和分子特征研究卷蛾科之间的历史关系。 本研究的主要目的是（1）解决在家庭Labridae的主要群体之间的关系;和（2）整合模式的物种之间的相关性与运动和摄食机制的信息。本研究主要是对鱼类新种及其解剖区域进行解剖学研究。DNA中的核苷酸序列是一种流行的并且现在容易获得的特征集，其可用于系谱分析，并且将获得来自基因细胞色素B和12 S rRNA的完整序列数据。这个项目将使用多个数据集为物种关系理论提供解剖学和分子数据的比较。本研究将利用卷尾科的系统发育来了解这些鱼类的摄食和运动系统的主要特征。在这个群体中发现的生物多样性反映在他们对广泛的进食和运动行为的利用上。 唇鱼科动物颚部的结构和功能反映了其捕食多种猎物的生态多样性。 运动是通过使用胸鳍在水中划船或飞行来完成的，具有各种各样的鳍结构和游泳性能。这里提出的系统发育研究提供了一个框架，在世界上最大的，最多样化的鱼类家族之一的功能和生态的解释。该项目对生物学领域具有重要意义，因为它为一大群重要鱼类提供了新的系统发育信息。 这项研究为研究超过10%的活鱼类的谱系提供了一个起点。更广泛的意义是使用系统发育树来解释结构和功能特征的变化模式。 从组织到整个生物体，对生物结构和功能的综合理解是生物学的主要前沿之一。这项工作有助于实现这一目标，提供了一个系统发育框架的研究labrid生态学，生物力学，行为和进化。 最后，这项研究作出了重大的教育贡献，因为它涉及在本科生，研究生和博士后水平的研究的学生。

9815614 WestneatFishes of the family Labridae are a diverse group of over 600 species that live on coral reefs throughout the world. The abundance of labrids makes them an integral part of the ecology of reef systems as well as an important economic resource. Although the biology of labrids has been the subject of intensive research, little is known about their ancestor-descendant relationships. This proposal requests support for a study of the historical relationships among the Labridae using both structural and molecular characters. The central objectives of this study are (1) to resolve relationships among major groups of fishes in the family Labridae; and (2) to integrate patterns of relatedness among species with information on locomotor and feeding mechanisms. This study focuses on anatomical study of new fish species and anatomical regions. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA is a popular and now easily obtained set of characters that can be used for genealogical analysis, and complete sequence data from the genes cytochrome b and 12S rRNA will be obtained. This project will provide a comparison of anatomical and molecular data for a theory of species relationships using multiple data sets. This research will use the phylogeny of the Labridae to understand major features of the feeding and locomotor systems of these fishes. The biodiversity found within this group is reflected in their exploitation of a wide range of feeding and locomotor behaviors. The structure and function of the jaws in labrids mirrors the ecological diversity of feeding on many types of prey. Locomotion is accomplished by using the pectoral fins to row or fly through the water with a wide range of fin structures and swimming performance. Phylogenetic studies proposed here provide the framework for interpretation of function and ecology in one of the largest, most diverse fish families in the world. This project is significant to the field of biology due to its contribution of new phylogenetic information on a large group of important fishes. The research provides a starting point for the study of genealogy among more than 10% of living fishes. Of broader significance is the use of phylogenetic trees to interpret patterns of change in structural and functional characters. The movement toward an integrated understanding of biological structure and function, from tissues to whole organisms, is one of the major frontiers of biology. This work contributes to that goal by providing a phylogenetic framework for studies of labrid ecology, biomechanics, behavior, and evolution. Finally, this study makes a significant educational contribution as it involves students in research at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels.