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

芝加哥大学在 Peter J. Makovicky 博士的指导下获得了一项奖项，以研究鹈鹕目（鹈鹕、鸬鹚和其他大型水鸟）的进化和系统学。 该项目将改善内森·D·史密斯的博士论文研究。 这群鸟类是研究现存物种和化石物种的理想模型。 这群鸟类展示了特殊的化石记录和截然不同的形态，但它们的进化关系却鲜为人知。 该项目将结合分子、形态学和古生物学的数据来研究鹈鹕目的进化模式。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类群的关系。这些数据将用于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，并探索进化速率和形态趋同的潜在情况。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影响。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览。史密斯将与 FMNH 合作，增强哈里斯教育贷款计划附带的解释材料，并为伊利诺伊州高中转型项目创建侧重于古生物学和进化论的项目。

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.