Dissertation Research: Catfish Spine Evolution: A Comparative Approach to a Prickly Problem

论文研究：鲶鱼脊柱进化：解决棘手问题的比较方法

• 批准号: 0607964
• 负责人: Andrew Simons
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 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: 2006-06-01 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0607964&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Catfish; Spine; Evolution

The catfish family Ictaluridae is of great economic and scientific significance. It includes economically important species such as the channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. All ictalurid catfishes have spines with associated venom glands on their pectoral and dorsal fins. These spines are thought to be the primary means of defense from predators. The size and shape of these spines and venom glands varies greatly among species, but it is unclear if pectoral spine shape is related to venom gland structure. This research will elucidate the phylogenetic tree describing relationships of ictalurid catfishes; the tree will be used to examine the evolution of spine shape and venom gland structure. This project will provide the opportunity to teach undergraduate students the principles of systematic biology and hypothesis testing in evolutionary biology. Students recruited to aid in data collection will learn technical skills including analysis of molecular and morphological data. Learning these skills by doing laboratory research teaches problem solving and critical thinking skills more effectively than classroom projects. Results from this project will be presented to the public in a variety of forums at the Bell Museum of Natural History. In addition to these immediate educational benefits, this project will also provide valuable information on the biology of a group of fishes important to anglers and aquaculturalists.

该科具有重要的经济意义和科学意义。它包括经济上重要的物种，如斑点叉尾、蓝点叉尾和扁头叉尾。所有的叉尾鲨都有刺，在它们的胸鳍和背鳍上有相关的毒腺。这些刺被认为是抵御捕食者的主要手段。这些刺和毒腺的大小和形状在不同物种之间差异很大，但尚不清楚胸棘形状是否与毒腺结构有关。这项研究将阐明描述斑点叉尾目鱼类亲缘关系的系统发育树；该树将被用来研究脊骨形状和毒腺结构的进化。这个项目将为本科生提供教授系统生物学原理和进化生物学中的假设检验的机会。被招募来帮助收集数据的学生将学习技术技能，包括分析分子和形态数据。通过实验室研究学习这些技能比课堂项目更有效地教授解决问题和批判性思维的技能。该项目的成果将在贝尔自然历史博物馆的各种论坛上向公众展示。除了这些直接的教育益处外，该项目还将提供一组对垂钓者和水产养殖者重要的鱼类生物学方面的宝贵信息。