Collaborative Research: Systematics, Biogeography, and Ecogeographic Variation in Treeshrews (Mammalia, Scandentia)

合作研究：树鼩（哺乳动物、Scandentia）的系统学、生物地理学和生态地理变异

• 批准号: 0542725
• 负责人: Link Olson
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-04-01 至 2009-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0542725&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Systematics; Biogeography; Ecogeographic

This project will study the evolutionary relationships of treeshrews, an order (Scandentia) of squirrel-like mammals from Southeast Asia. Treeshrews have featured prominently in studies of mammalian evolution due to the belief that they represent one of the most primitive groups of placental mammals. Uncertainty about the number of species and their interrelationships is striking, however, and represents a significant impediment to their conservation and studies of mammalian diversification. This study will utilize material in museums worldwide to 1) obtain DNA sequences with which evolutionary relationships will be studied, 2) record anatomical data and 3) combine these data to study geographic variation and identify the number of living species.Southeast Asia is undergoing a conservation crisis, and the Indo-Malayan archipelago is one of the world's five hottest conservation hotspots. This study will have implications for conservation and understanding diversification in geographically complex environments. A postdoc will be trained in degraded DNA sequencing, and she will also engage in teaching and outreach. Two undergraduates will also be trained. A resulting database of treeshrew museum specimens and dissemination of information to the public via web sites will promote awareness of SE Asian biodiversity. Presentations and publications will enhance understanding of treeshrew diversification and SE Asian biogeography. Benefits to society include more informed conservation priorities and increased awareness of the value of museum collections.

该项目将研究东南亚松鼠形似哺乳动物的一个目(北极目)树栖动物的进化关系。在哺乳动物进化的研究中，树栖动物占据了突出的地位，因为人们认为它们代表了胎盘哺乳动物中最原始的群体之一。然而，物种数量及其相互关系的不确定性是惊人的，这对它们的保护和哺乳动物多样性的研究是一个重大障碍。这项研究将利用世界各地博物馆的材料来1)获得研究进化关系的DNA序列，2)记录解剖数据，3)结合这些数据来研究地理变异和确定生物物种的数量。东南亚正在经历一场保护危机，印度-马来群岛是世界上五个最热门的保护热点之一。这项研究将对保护和理解地理复杂环境中的多样性产生影响。一名博士后将接受降解DNA测序方面的培训，她还将从事教学和推广工作。两名本科生也将接受培训。由此产生的树木标本数据库和通过网站向公众传播的信息将提高对东南亚生物多样性的认识。演示文稿和出版物将增进对树木多样性和东南亚生物地理学的了解。对社会的好处包括更知情的保护优先事项和提高对博物馆藏品价值的认识。