Dissertation Research: Ecology and Population Structure: are Species Convergent in Habitat use also Convergent in Degree of Population Subdivision?

分子标记（线粒体DNA序列）被用来量化人口的遗传结构在地理上广泛分布的物种阿诺利斯蜥蜴（anoles）在大安的列斯群岛的四个岛屿。加勒比变色龙提供了一个极好的机会，测试生态专业化的影响，否则类似的物种的遗传结构，使用重复的观察。在大安的列斯群岛的四个岛屿上，类似的栖息地专家在anoles中独立进化。 这些专家在生态学上有所不同，但在被认为影响种群结构的其他因素（即生活史、地理分布、起源年龄、生殖行为）方面相似。一个物种的遗传结构对其生物学的许多方面都有重要影响，包括产生新物种或灭绝的可能性。 本研究的结果评估的重要性，生境专业化的生产和维护的生态群落的生物多样性，以及优先考虑的栖息地专业化的保护措施。

Molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA sequences) are used to quantify population genetic structure in geographically widespread species of Anolis lizards (anoles) on each of four islands in the Greater Antilles. Caribbean anoles provide an outstanding opportunity for testing the impact of ecological specialization on genetic structures of otherwise similar species using replicated observations. Similar kinds of habitat specialists have evolved independently in anoles on each of the four islands in the Greater Antilles. These specialists differ ecologically but are similar with regard to other factors thought to affect population structure (i.e. life history, geographic distribution, age of origin, reproductive behavior). A species' genetic structure has important consequences for many aspects of its biology, including its probability of giving rise to new species or going extinct. The results of this study assess the importance of habitat specialization for production and maintenance of biodiversity in ecological communities, and the priority of habitat specialization as a consideration in conservation practices.