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

芝加哥大学在彼得·J·马科维奇博士的指导下，研究了鹈鹕形目（鹈鹕、鸬鹚和其他大型水鸟）的进化和系统学。 该项目将提高Nathan D.史密斯 这群鸟是研究活的和化石物种的理想模型。 这组鸟类展示了一个特殊的化石记录和显着不同的形态，但他们的进化关系知之甚少。 该项目将结合分子，形态学和古生物学的数据来研究Pelecaniformes的进化模式。形态学和DNA数据将用于解决系统发育关系，化石记录的综合将阐明关键化石分类群的关系。这些数据将被用来调查分子测年方法的敏感性，比较分子遗传数据支持的关系与化石记录，并探讨进化速度和形态学收敛的潜在案例，这项研究对系统生物学中的数据集组合和发散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。研究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，以增强哈里斯教育贷款计划的解释性材料，并为伊利诺伊州高中改造项目创建程序，重点是古生物学和进化。

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.