Integrating Systematics and GIS Modeling: Biogeography of Spiny Pocket Mice (Heteromyidae) in South America

这项研究将利用计算机绘图和DNA测序来研究一组哺乳动物的地理分布(范围)以及它们之间的进化关系。多刺口袋鼠起源于北美，后来多样化地生活在南美洲的各种环境中(从干燥的灌木丛到雨林，再到山区的潮湿森林)。研究人员将使用已知栖息地的气候数据对每个物种的分布进行建模，并使用DNA序列确定这些物种之间的谱系关系。这些结果将回答有关南美洲物种多样化和殖民的问题，评估该物种的当前保护状况(使用来自卫星的数据显示剩余的森林栖息地)，并预测它们在全球气候变化情景下的未来范围。使用地理信息系统(地理信息系统；计算机绘图程序)来模拟物种分布是一个新的研究领域，在农业(害虫分布)、人类健康(病媒或病媒分布)和物种保护等领域都有应用。这项研究将为今后其他物种的类似研究提供便利。研究人员将培训本科生和研究生，包括来自科学界代表性不足的群体的成员。

This research will use computer mapping and DNA sequencing to study the geographic distributions (ranges) of a group of mammals and the evolutionary relationships among them. Spiny pocket mice originated in North America and later diversified to inhabit a remarkable array of environments in South America (from dry scrub, to rainforest, to wet forests in the mountains). The researchers will model the distribution of each species using climatic data for sites it is known to inhabit and determine the genealogical relationships among these species using DNA sequences. The results will answer questions regarding the group''s diversification and colonization of South America, assess the species'' current conservation status (using data from satellites showing remaining forested habitat), and predict their future ranges under scenarios of global climate change. Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS; computer mapping programs) to model species distributions represents a new area of research with applications in areas as diverse as agriculture (distributions of pests), human health (distributions of disease vectors or reservoirs), and species conservation. This study will facilitate similar research on other species in the future. The researchers will train undergraduate and graduate students, including members from groups underrepresented in science.