DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Maintenance of a Flower Color Polymorphism in Mimulus Aurantiacus

论文研究： 酸橙花颜色多态性的维持

• 批准号: 0309153
• 负责人: Joshua Kohn
• 金额: $ 1.2万
• 依托单位: University of California-San Diego
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-06-01 至 2005-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0309153&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Maintenance; Flower; Color

This study investigates the factors maintaining a spatially discrete flower color polymorphism between coastal and inland populations of southern California Mimulus aurantiacus. Coastal populations contain exclusively red flowers, while approximately 30 km from the coast there is an abrupt transition to yellow flowers. This pattern makes M. aurantiacus an extremely interesting system for investigating whether this polymorphism has been influenced by historical barriers to gene flow or whether (and how) natural selection has shaped it. We will use a combination of molecular genetics, field observations, and experimental studies to examine the degree of morphological, geographical, and genetic differentiation between these morphs while attempting to describe the relative roles of pollinator versus non-pollinator selection on the maintenance of this polymorphism. This research program will be important for increasing our understanding of the forces maintaining trait variation in nature. Preliminary results implicate a strong role for natural selection in preserving this polymorphism, but the selective forces remain unclear. Proposed field and laboratory work will include the assistance of many undergraduate researchers. Their involvement in these studies is crucial to its success and provides for enhanced educational experiences.

本研究旨在探讨维持南部加州沿海和内陆种群间空间离散花色多态性的因素。沿海种群只包含红色的花，而在距离海岸约30公里处，突然过渡到黄色的花。 这种模式使M. aurantiacus是一个非常有趣的系统，用于调查这种多态性是否受到基因流动的历史障碍的影响，或者是否（以及如何）自然选择塑造了它。我们将使用分子遗传学，野外观察和实验研究的组合来检查形态，地理，和这些变体之间的遗传分化，同时试图描述传粉者与非传粉者选择对维持这种多态性的相对作用。 这项研究计划将是重要的，增加我们的理解的力量，保持性状的变化在自然界中。初步结果暗示了自然选择在保持这种多态性方面的重要作用，但选择力仍不清楚。 拟议的实地和实验室工作将包括许多本科研究人员的协助。他们参与这些研究是其成功的关键，并提供了更好的教育经验。