DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Exploring the mode of speciation in the South African genus Protea (Proteaceae).

论文研究：探索南非山龙眼属（山龙眼科）的物种形成模式。

• 批准号: 0709690
• 负责人: Kent Holsinger
• 金额: $ 1.2万
• 依托单位: University of Connecticut
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-06-01 至 2010-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0709690&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Exploring; mode; speciation

Species of the plant family Proteaceae exemplify the evolutionary radiations that have occurred in South Africa's Cape Floristic Region (CFR) over the past 20 million years. Many of the 330 species are found nowhere else in the world. This project explores the relative importance of adaptive and neutral processes in the evolution of the White Proteas, a small endemic group within the genus Protea. Because water and nutrients are likely to limit survival and reproduction in the CFR, patterns of differentiation in traits associated with water and nutrient use will be compared with patterns of variation in neutral genetic markers to determine whether natural selection is responsible for diversification. These patterns will then be related to variations in nutrient and water status of soils in wild populations.In addition to clarifying the mode of evolution in this group, the data will also be useful to the conservation of these species, which are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These data will help conservation and restoration biologists identify populations that are better adapted to heat and drought. The project also fosters co-operation with SANBI, a South African research institute and will help to train undergraduate students in field and lab work techniques.

在过去的2000万年中，植物科蛋白科的种类体现了南非开普敦植物区（CFR）发生的进化辐射。在世界上，330种无处可寻。该项目探讨了自适应和中性过程在白色蛋白酶的演化中的相对重要性，该蛋白酶是蛋白质属的一个小流行群体。由于水和养分可能会限制CFR的生存和繁殖，因此将与中性遗传标记物的变化模式进行比较，与水和养分相关的特征分化模式，以确定自然选择是否负责多样化。然后，这些模式将与野生种群中养分​​和土壤水状态的变化有关。除了阐明该组的进化方式外，数据还将有助于保护这些物种，这些物种尤其容易受到气候变化的影响。这些数据将有助于保护和恢复生物学家确定更好地适应热量和干旱的人群。该项目还与南非研究所桑比（Sanbi）促进了合作，并将帮助培训现场和实验室工作技术的本科生。