DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Integrating Molecular, Morphological, and Paleontological Data: Phylogeny, Diversification, and Character Evolution within the Pelecaniformes

在彼得·J·马科维奇博士的指导下，芝加哥大学获得了一个奖项，以研究鹈鹕形目动物(鹈鹕、鹈鹕和其他大型水鸟)的进化和系统学。该项目将提高内森·D·史密斯的博士论文研究水平。这组鸟类是研究活物种和化石物种的理想模型。这组鸟类展示了特殊的化石记录和显著不同的形态，但它们的进化关系鲜为人知。该项目将联合来自分子、形态和古生物学的数据，以研究人亚目动物的进化模式。形态和DNA数据将被用来解决系统发育关系，化石记录的综合将阐明关键化石类群的关系。这些数据将被用来研究分子测年方法的敏感性，比较分子遗传数据与化石记录支持的关系，探索进化速度和潜在的形态趋同情况。这项研究对系统生物学中的数据集组合和分歧时间估计问题具有更广泛的意义。这项研究还将教育公众有关古生物学、进化和生物多样性的知识。结果将用于更新菲尔德自然历史博物馆的鸟类化石展品。史密斯将与FMNH合作，加强哈里斯教育贷款计划的解释材料，并为伊利诺伊州高中转型项目创建专注于古生物学和进化的规划。

An award has been made to the University of Chicago under the direction of Dr. Peter J. Makovicky to study the evolution and systematics of the Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, and other large water birds). The project will improve the doctoral dissertation research of Nathan D. Smith. This group of birds is an ideal model for the study of living and fossil species. This group of birds exhibits an exceptional fossil record and remarkably disparate morphologies, but their evolutionary relationships are poorly known. This project will unite data from molecules, morphology, and paleontology to examine evolutionary patterns within Pelecaniformes. Morphology and DNA data will be used to resolve phylogenetic relationships, and a synthesis of the fossil record will elucidate relationships of key fossil taxa. These data will be used to investigate the sensitivity of molecular dating methods, compare relationships supported by molecular genetic data with those of the fossil record, and explore rates of evolution and potential cases of morphological convergence.This research has broader implications for issues of dataset combination and divergence time estimation in systematic biology. This study will also educate the public about paleontology, evolution, and biodiversity. Results will be used to update exhibits of fossil birds in the Field Museum of Natural History. Smith will collaborate with the FMNH to enhance explanatory material accompanying the Harris Educational Loan Program, and to create programming for the Illinois High School Transformation Project that focuses on paleontology and evolution.