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

这种被称为巢联想的繁殖策略被许多北美小鱼所展示，被认为是筑巢物种与在宿主巢中产卵的一系列相关物种之间的共生关系。研究寄主专一性在一组密切相关的北美小鱼中的进化将为共生繁殖行为的进化提供洞察力。这项研究将结合多种技术(基于遗传学的系统发育、行为和实验)，并将首次在巢关联进化的背景下包括寄主专一性、伴生组合和幼虫发育的变化。特别是，这将是第一次明确研究这种繁育系统中专家-多面手进化趋势的研究。与陆生脊椎动物相比，鱼类的繁殖策略非常多样化，为检验历史上偏向陆地系统的进化假说提供了完美的舞台。该项目的一个主要目标是通过在科学会议上作陈述和在同行评议的期刊上发表出版物来传播成果。由于这项研究的双重领域和实验室部分，代表不足的学生有足够的机会参与。研究人员的目标不仅是让学生接触研究，而且鼓励他们拓展和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.