DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Genus Psilorhynchus (Ostariophysi: Cypriniformes)

居住在相似环境中的无关生物往往表现出惊人的相似形态。鲤形目的许多成员(类似鲤鱼的鱼)表现出类似的形态适应快速流动的河流中的底栖生物(嗜流)。由于其高度改变的形态，一些底栖流变者，特别是印度支那属的成员的进化关系尚不清楚。本研究将基于形态和分子数据完成鲤形目鱼类的系统发育分析，以揭示神秘的鲤形目鱼类的进化关系。由此产生的假说将被用来在印度支那地区的生物地理史的背景下，研究鲤形目动物中底栖嗜血生活方式的进化起源和Psilorhynchus的起源。这个项目将为co-Pi Conway提供分子系统学技术的研究生培训，并让本科生接触形态技术和系统发生方法论。这个项目将促进对与快速流动的水中的生命相关的形态适应的更多欣赏和理解。本研究产生的数据将存入在线数据库，供公众查阅。

Unrelated organisms inhabiting similar environments often exhibit strikingly similar morphologies. Many members of the Order Cypriniformes (carp-like fishes) exhibit similar morphological adaptations for benthic life in fast flowing rivers (rheophilic). Due to their highly modified morphologies, evolutionary relationships of some benthic rheophiles, and members of the Indoburmese genus Psilorhynchus in particular, are unknown. This study will complete a phylogenetic analysis for Cypriniformes based on morphological and molecular data to discover evolutionary relationship of the enigmatic Psilorhynchus. The resulting hypothesis will be used to investigate evolutionary origins of a benthic rheophilic lifestyle within Cypriniformes and the origin of Psilorhynchus in the context of the biogeographic history of the Indoburmese region.This project will provide graduate training for co-PI Conway in molecular phylogenetic techniques and expose undergraduate students to morphological techniques and phylogenetic methodology. This project will foster a greater appreciation and understanding of morphological adaptations associated with life in fast flowing water. Data generated in this study will be deposited in online databases for public access.