Dissertation Research: The evolution of reproductive isolation across the genus Mimulus

地球上发现的令人惊叹的生物多样性最终是通过物种形成的基本过程产生的。尽管生物学家长期以来一直对物种起源着迷，但仍有许多重要的问题悬而未决。其中，物种形成研究的一个中心问题是，什么样的障碍最常见地推动了这一过程，特别是围绕合子前障碍和合子后障碍的相对重要性展开了辩论。前合子障碍是那些限制杂交形成的障碍，而后合子障碍涉及降低杂交适应度。这项拟议中的研究将考察最近出现分歧的10对猴子属物种之间多种形式的生殖隔离的强度。将使用各种田间、温室和实验室方法来检查前合子障碍，包括栖息地、繁殖时机、传粉者和配子亲和性的差异。受精卵后的障碍将通过在实验室和温室中进行实验杂交来评估。此外，还将检查当前和历史上的基因流动模式，并将其与当前隔离的措施进行比较。该项目还将用于培训本科生，包括来自代表性不足群体的个人。此外，这项研究的结果将用于加强当地学区的中学教学。

The stunning biodiversity found on Earth ultimately arose through the fundamental process of speciation. While biologists have long been fascinated by species origination, there are many important unanswered questions. Among these, a central question to speciation research is what kinds of barriers most commonly drive the process, and particular debate has surrounded the relative importance of pre- versus postzygotic barriers. Prezygotic barriers are those that limit hybrid formation, while postzygotic barriers involve reduced hybrid fitness. The proposed study will examine the strength of multiple forms of reproductive isolation in ten recently diverged species pairs in the genus Mimulus (monkeyflowers). A variety of field, greenhouse, and laboratory methods will be employed to examine prezygotic barriers including differences in habitat, timing of reproduction, pollinators, and gametic compatibility. Postzygotic barriers will be assessed by performing experimental hybridizations in the laboratory and greenhouse. Additionally, patterns of current and historical gene flow will be examined and compared to measures of current isolation. This project will also serve to train undergraduates, including individuals from underrepresented groups. In addition, the results of this study will be used to enhance secondary school teaching in the local school district.