Collaborative Research: Systematics and evolution of fossil and living delphinidans (dolphins, porpoises, and kin)

合作研究：飞燕草化石和活体（海豚、鼠海豚及其近亲）的系统学和进化

• 批准号: 0640313
• 负责人: John Gatesy
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-03-15 至 2011-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0640313&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Systematics; evolution; fossil

In this project, principal investigators will integrate DNA sequences and anatomical data from living and fossil species to study the evolution of Delphinida, the group that includes oceanic dolphins, most river dolphins, porpoises, belugas, and narwhals. Research objectives are to resolve evolutionary relationships among living and extinct species, estimate when the diversification of dolphins occurred, determine if behavior influenced the evolution of large brains in dolphins, and unravel the evolution of olfactory receptor genes in aquatic animals that lack the sense of smell. DNA will be sequenced in a state-of-the-art lab, anatomical data will be collected from museums worldwide, and computers will be used to analyze the large body of data collected.This work will aid in the conservation of these federally protected species by stabilizing their classification, as well as by providing genetic tools to monitor threatened populations. Work on the evolution of brains in dolphins will be a case study with which to compare the evolution of large brains in primates. This study will engage undergraduate students in scientific research. Results will be disseminated on a website that educates the public about the remarkable evidence for evolution from fossils and the DNA of dolphins and porpoises.

在这个项目中，主要研究人员将整合DNA序列和来自活体和化石物种的解剖数据来研究海豚的进化，这一群体包括海洋海豚、大多数河豚、鼠海豚、白鲸和独角鲸。研究目标是解决现存和灭绝物种之间的进化关系，估计海豚的多样化发生的时间，确定行为是否影响了海豚大脑的进化，以及揭示缺乏嗅觉的水生动物嗅觉受体基因的进化。DNA测序将在最先进的实验室进行，解剖数据将从世界各地的博物馆收集，计算机将用于分析收集到的大量数据。这项工作将有助于这些联邦保护物种的保护，稳定它们的分类，并提供遗传工具来监测受威胁的种群。对海豚大脑进化的研究将是一个比较灵长类动物大脑进化的案例研究。这项研究将使本科生从事科学研究。研究结果将在一个网站上公布，该网站向公众宣传海豚和鼠海豚的化石和DNA进化的显著证据。