RUI: Collaborative Research: Marine Algal Diversity of Southern Central America

尽管历史上有相反的情况，但最近对巴拿马海藻多样性的研究揭示了巴拿马海藻物种丰富的海洋植物群，包括科学上的新物种和可能代表重要天然化合物来源的物种。该项目将通过在加勒比海和东部热带太平洋进行深入的水肺实地调查、现场采集的标本的活体培养以及海藻 DNA 的比较来阐明海藻多样性的模式。这项工作将建立海藻多样性的基线，根据该基线可以评估环境变化，并可以测试进化假设。具体来说，概述了一项策略来解释为什么中美洲加勒比海和太平洋海岸的藻类组成如此相似，而动物多样性的一般模式是不同的（尽管密切相关）物种栖息在相反的海岸。该项目的一项主要举措是在中美洲南部建立一个海藻科学家合作组织，以促进海藻进化和生物地理学的长期研究。作为这项研究的一部分，或通过分类学研讨会，40 多名学生和科学家（来自巴拿马、哥斯达黎加、萨尔瓦多和哥伦比亚的大学、史密森尼热带研究所以及美国合作机构）将接受海藻鉴定、分子系统学和海藻培养方面的培训。该研究将增进对热带海藻的分布和多样性以及中美洲地峡的生物历史的了解，并最终形成一系列巴拿马海洋植物区系的双语识别指南。国际科学与工程办公室共同资助该奖项，以帮助支持美国学生参与这项国际研究活动。

Despite historical references to the contrary, recent study of Panamanian seaweed diversity has revealed a marine flora rich in species, including species new to science and species that may represent sources of important natural compounds. This project will elucidate patterns of seaweed diversity through intensive SCUBA-based field surveys in the Caribbean Sea and eastern tropical Pacific, live culture of field-collected specimens, and comparisons of seaweed DNA. The work will result in the establishment of a baseline of seaweed diversity upon which environmental change can be assessed, and upon which evolutionary hypotheses can be tested. Specifically, a strategy is outlined to explain why algal species composition on Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Central America is so similar, in comparison to the general pattern of zoological diversity in which distinct (though closely related) species inhabit opposite coasts. A major initiative of this project is to establish a collaborative of seaweed scientists in southern Central America that will promote long-term study of seaweed evolution and biogeography. Over 40 students and scientists (from universities in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Colombia, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and collaborating American Institutions) will receive training in seaweed identification, molecular systematics and seaweed culturing as part of this research, or through taxonomic workshops. The research will advance an understanding of the distribution and diversity of tropical seaweeds, as well as the biotic history of the Central American Isthmus, and culminate in a series of bi-lingual identification guides to the marine flora of Panama. The Office of International Science and Engineering is co-funding this award to help support US student participation in this international research activity.