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

这项研究将使用计算机制图和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。带刺口袋鼠起源于北美，后来多样化，栖息在南美洲的一系列令人惊叹的环境中（从干燥的灌木丛到雨林，再到山区潮湿的森林）。研究人员将利用已知栖息地的气候数据对每个物种的分布进行建模，并利用DNA序列确定这些物种之间的家谱关系。研究结果将回答有关该物种在南美洲的多样化和殖民化的问题，评估该物种目前的保护状况（使用卫星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。利用地理信息系统（GIS；计算机绘图程序）对物种分布进行建模代表了一个新的研究领域，在农业（害虫的分布）、人类健康（疾病媒介或宿主的分布）和物种保护等不同领域都有应用。该研究将为今后对其他物种的类似研究提供参考。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.