Dissertation Research: A Molecular Phylogenetic Study of Geographic Genetic Variation and Speciation in Salamanders of the Eurycea bislineata species complex

对于流相关的生物有限的传播能力，流之间的历史联系产生的预测种群之间的遗传相互作用和排水系统之间的传播路线。我们使用线粒体基因谱系的时间和空间变化存在的地质历史的流排水和地理遗传片段的宽海域bislineata物种复杂的plethodontid蝾螈之间的关系进行调查。双线宽洋蝾螈（英语：Eurycea bislineata）是北美东部内陆低地、阿巴拉契亚高地、皮埃蒙特和沿海平原地区的常见物种。对北美东部的plethodontid蝾螈动物群的深入研究发现，这一群体中的种群和许多神秘物种之间存在高水平的遗传结构，其特有性和物种多样性在阿巴拉契亚山脉南部比美国任何其他地区都要大。我们的研究提供了深入了解影响这一物种丰富的脊椎动物群体多样化的历史因素。在更广泛的层面上，这项研究的影响，了解因素，产生和维持生物多样性的流相关的生物北美东部。

For stream-associated organisms with limited dispersal abilities, the historical connections among streams generate predictions about genetic interactions among populations and routes of dispersal between drainage systems. We use the temporal and spatial variation present in mitochondrial gene lineages to investigate the relationship between the geological history of stream drainages and geographic genetic fragmentation in plethodontid salamanders of the Eurycea bislineata species complex. Plethodontid salamanders of the Eurycea bislineata species complex are common in streams throughout the Interior Lowland, Appalachian Highland, Piedmont and Coastal Plain physiographic provinces of eastern North America. Intensive research on the plethodontid salamander fauna of eastern North America has uncovered high levels of genetic structuring among populations and numerous cryptic species in this group, whose endemism and species diversity are greater in the southern Appalachian Mountains than any other region in the United States. Our research provides insight into the historical factors affecting diversification in this species-rich group of vertebrates. At a broader level, this research has implications for understanding factors that generate and maintain biodiversity in stream-associated organisms of eastern North America.