Acquisition of an Automated Genetic Analyzer For Research and Training in Systematics and Ecology.

宾夕法尼亚克莱里昂大学（Clarion University of Pennsylvania）的罗杰·麦克弗森（Roger McPherson）博士获得了一笔赠款，用于购买对几个重要研究项目以及培养生态学和系统学本科生和硕士学位至关重要的基因技术。购买的设备是一台基因分析仪，带有基因测序、聚合酶链反应（PCR）产品分级软件和定量软件。该系统允许Clarion大学的教师和学生研究人员进行基因测序活动，并使用遗传标记来确定小地理范围内具有高分辨率的个体和群体的遗传图谱或“遗传指纹”。该仪器将支持由克莱里昂大学生态学教授领导的四个研究小组的工作。由项目主任R.麦克弗森领导的一个项目将使用遗传标记间接测量在不同程度破碎的流域中冷水鱼类的扩散情况。这些运动的间接测量和更传统的直接测量将被用来测试冷水鱼类在溪流中运动的假设。由安德鲁·特纳博士（Co-PD）领导的第二个研究小组将使用基因分析来研究淡水蜗牛种群中基因流动和行为变化的关系。蜗牛种群在捕食者存在的情况下改变栖息地使用的程度不同。对基因流动的研究将有助于更好地理解淡水蜗牛的本地适应性。由查尔斯·威廉姆斯博士（Co-PD）领导的第三组将使用仪器调查长期浏览景观中木本植物的种群结构、基因流动和动态。许多植物种类的丰度由于过度的取食而大大减少。然而，人们对主要林下植物的消失对森林功能和结构的影响知之甚少。这个研究小组将利用基因分析来了解这种关系。在Steven Harris博士（Co-PD）的指导下，第四个研究小组将使用DNA序列变异来解决Neotropical caddis蝇（一种高度多样化的无脊椎动物群体）的遗传关系。它们的幼虫期是水生的，与蜉蝣和石蝇一起被生态学家用作水质良好的河流的指标。在北美，这个群体的生物多样性是众所周知的，但在新热带地区，情况并非如此。哈里斯博士和他的学生在使用形态特征方面陷入了某种僵局，但他们还没有把基因分析作为解决分类学关系的一种手段。他们将比较基因序列来研究这些重要溪流生物的生物多样性。这些项目中的每一个都将使用最先进的基因技术来解决生态学和系统学中的基本问题。该奖项的广泛影响包括加强克莱里昂大学的研究基础设施。此外，该仪器的存在将扩大系统学和生态学本科生和理学硕士学生的研究训练范围。它将允许学生与教师合作，亲身体验最新的遗传技术，因为这些技术适用于环境生物学和系统学中的重要问题。随着使用这些技术的能力的扩大，更多的学生（包括女性和少数民族本科生）将有机会获得宝贵的研究训练。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Roger McPherson at Clarion University of Pennsylvania to purchase genetic technology crucial to several important research projects and the training of undergraduate and Master's degree students in ecology and systematics. The equipment purchased is a Genetic Analyzer with gene sequencing, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) product sizing software, and quantitation software. This system allows faculty and student researchers at Clarion University to carry out gene sequencing activities and to use genetic markers that can determine the genetic profile, or "genetic fingerprint," of individuals and populations on a small geographic scale with a high degree of resolution. The instrumentation will support the efforts of four-research groups led by ecology faculty at Clarion University. One project, led by the Project Director, R. McPherson, will use genetic markers to indirectly measure the dispersal of coldwater fishes in watersheds having various degrees of fragmentation. These indirect measures of movement and more traditional direct measures will be used to test hypotheses of among stream movement of coldwater fishes. A second research group led by Dr. Andrew Turner (Co-PD) will use genetic analyses to examine the relationship of gene flow and behavioral variation among freshwater snail populations. Snail populations vary in the extent to which they shift habitat use in the presence of predators. Studies of gene flow will lead to a better understanding of local adaptation in freshwater snails. A third group directed by Dr. Charles Williams (Co-PD) would use the instrumentation to investigate population structure, gene flow, and dynamics of woody plants in a chronically browsed landscape. Many plant species have diminished greatly in abundance due to heavy browsing. However, little is known about how the loss of key understory plants has influenced forest function and structure. This research-group will be using genetic analyses to gain an understanding of this relationship. A fourth research-group under the guidance of Dr. Steven Harris (Co-PD) will use DNA sequence variation to resolve genetic relationships in Neotropical caddisflies, a highly diverse invertebrate group. Their larval stages are aquatic and along with the mayflies and stoneflies are often utilized by ecologists as indicators of streams possessing good water quality. In North America, the biodiversity of this group is fairly well known, but in the neotropics, such is not the case. Dr. Harris and his students have reached somewhat of an impasse using morphological characters, but have not yet looked at genetic analyses as a means of resolving taxonomic relationships. They will compare genetic sequences to study the biological diversity of these important stream organisms. Each of these projects will use state-of- the-art genetic technology to address fundamental questions in ecology and systematics. The broad implications of the award include the strengthening of the research infrastructure at Clarion University. Additionally, the presence of this instrumentation will expand the scope of the research training for undergraduate and Master of Science students in systematics and ecology. It will allow the students, collaborating with faculty, hands-on experience with the latest genetic techniques as these techniques apply to important issues in environmental biology and systematics. With the expansion of the capabilities in the use of these techniques a greater number of students (including female and minority undergraduates) will be afforded the opportunity to gain valuable research training.