DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of nest association in North American minnows (Cyprinidae)

繁殖策略被称为巢协会是由许多北美米诺鱼展示，被认为是一个共生关系之间的筑巢物种和一系列的伴生物种产卵在主机的巢。在一个密切相关的北美小鱼组内的宿主特异性的进化的检查将提供洞察共生繁殖行为的进化。这项研究将采用多种技术（基于遗传学的系统发育，行为和实验），并将是第一个包括在巢协会的进化背景下，在主机特异性，关联组合和幼虫发育的变化。特别是，这将是第一项明确调查该育种系统中的专通才进化趋势的研究。 鱼类的繁殖策略是高度多样化的陆生脊椎动物相比，并提供了完美的竞技场，在其中测试进化的假设，历史上一直偏向于陆生系统。该项目的一个主要目标是通过在科学会议上的发言和在同行评审的期刊上发表文章来传播研究结果。由于这项研究的双重领域和实验室组成部分，有充分的机会代表性不足的学生参与。研究人员的目标不仅是让学生接触研究，而且鼓励他们扩展并形成自己的研究目标。

The breeding strategy known as nest association is exhibited by many North American minnows and is regarded as a symbiotic relationship between a nest-building species and an array of associate species which spawn in the host's nest. Examination of the evolution of host specificity within a closely related group of North American minnows will provide insight into the evolution of symbiotic breeding behavior. This study will incorporate multiple techniques (genetics-based phylogenetic, behavioral, and experimental), and will be the first to include variations in host specificity, associate assemblage, and larval development in the context of the evolution of nest association. In particular this will be the first study to explicitly investigate the specialist-generalist evolutionary trends in this breeding system. Reproductive strategies of fishes are highly diverse compared to those of terrestrial vertebrates and provide the perfect arena in which to test evolutionary hypotheses which have been historically biased towards terrestrial systems. A major goal of this project is the dissemination of the results through presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Due to the dual field and laboratory components of this study, there are ample opportunities for underrepresented student participation. It is the goal of the researchers to not only expose students to research but to encourage them to expand and form their own research goals.