Speciation in Darwin's Finches

物种形成是产生生物多样性的基本进化过程。关于它是如何发生的，以及负责任的机制是什么，存在很多争论。在认识上的最新进展来自于实验室中对近亲物种的遗传分析。从自然界的研究中，我们对物种形成的生态环境和微观进化力量知之甚少。拟议中的研究利用了加拉帕戈斯群岛上达尔文雀提供的一个非常有利的环境。他们是一个完整的群体，生活在一个基本不受干扰的环境中。在达芙妮梅杰的小岛上，人们对四种物种进行了30年的深入研究。在此基础上，物种形成过程中不同阶段的种群将通过多种方法进行调查；对单独标记的鸟类进行直接观察，以确定繁殖模式和存活率，并对实验性回放录音歌曲的反应进行观察，以确定物种识别的行为限制。这项研究的结果将有助于阐明自然环境下物种形成的机制。有两个更广泛的影响。首先，研究将阐明影响和维持需要保护的小型和潜在濒危种群的遗传变异的因素。第二，长期研究的结果将在媒体上起到教育作用。

Speciation is the fundamental process in evolution that generates biological diversity. There is much debate on how it occurs and what the responsible mechanisms are. Most recent advances in understanding have come from genetic analyses of closely related species in the laboratory. Less is known from studies in nature about the ecological circumstances and microevolutionary forces responsible for speciation. The proposed research takes advantage of an exceptionally favorable situation provided by Darwin's Finches on the Galapagos islands. They are an intact group living in a largely undisturbed environment. Four species have been intensively studied on the small island of Daphne Major for 30 years. Building on this, populations at different stages in the speciation process will be investigated by a combination of methods; direct observations of individually marked birds to determine breeding patterns and survival, and responses to experimental playback of tape-recorded songs to determine behavioral limits to species recognition. Results of this research will help to clarify the mechanisms of speciation under natural circumstances. There are two broader impacts. First, the research will elucidate factors that influence and maintain genetic variation in small and potentially endangered populations in need of conservation. Second, results of the long-term study will serve an educational function in the media.