Dissertation Research: Factors Influencing Evolutionary and Ecological Patterns of Body Size in North American Freshwater Fishes

这项研究考察了北美淡水鱼在进化、区域和当地社区层面上的体型。将确定与观察到的模式有关的生态和其他因素。初步结果与古生物学研究中常见的模式相矛盾，描述了九个鱼科中的七个鱼科的身体大小在进化中减小的趋势。对区域群落的初步分析表明，体型随着纬度的增加而增加。这项研究的结果将使人们更好地了解导致身体大小变化的因素，并可能适用于其他生物群体。

0073156PageThis research examines patterns of body size in North American freshwater fishes at evolutionary, and regional and local community levels. Ecological and other factors related to observed patterns will be identified. Preliminary results contradict patterns commonly seen in paleontological studies by describing an evolutionarily decreasing trend in body size in seven of nine families of fishes. Preliminary analyses of regional communities indicate that body size increases with latitude. Results of this research will lead to a much better understanding of the factors responsible for variation in body size and are likely to be applicable to other groups of organisms.