Systematics and Influence of Coral Reefs on Diversification in Tetraodontiform Fishes

珊瑚礁对四齿鱼多样化的系统学及其影响

• 批准号: 0842397
• 负责人: Michael Alfaro
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: University of California-Los Angeles
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-02-15 至 2013-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0842397&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Systematics; Influence; Coral; Reefs; Diversification

Coral reef fishes are an astonishingly diverse group of vertebrates. They are rich in number and extraordinarily varied in shape, size, and ecology. This project will investigate how coral reefs have shaped marine fish biodiversity by examining diversification patterns and processes in tetraodontiform fishes (a group including pufferfishes, porcupine fishes, and triggerfishes). The investigators will construct an evolutionary tree for this group by analyzing DNA sequences, key morphological features, and the fossil record. This tree will provide a framework for comparing rates of evolution of fins, body shape, and jaws between reef and non-reef species. The research team will test whether reef species have evolved changes in their feeding and swimming systems more quickly than non-reef species and whether major evolutionary changes correspond with key historical events, such as the closing of sea-ways or periods of rapid climate change. This work will provide important new insights into how coral reefs, one of the planets most unique habitats, have shaped biodiversity in marine fishes. By revealing how paleoclimatic events have affected historical patterns of species richness, this study will improve the understanding of the impacts of human-caused global changes on reef fish biodiversity. Outreach efforts - including mentoring, seminars, and workshops - will provide training for new scientists from underrepresented groups and advance the use of newly developed analytical methods to the national research community.

珊瑚礁鱼类是一群极其多样化的脊椎动物。它们数量丰富，形状、大小和生态也极其多样。该项目将通过研究四齿鱼（包括河豚、豪猪鱼和炮弹鱼）的多样化模式和过程来研究珊瑚礁如何塑造海洋鱼类生物多样性。研究人员将通过分析 DNA 序列、关键形态特征和化石记录，为这个群体构建进化树。这棵树将为比较珊瑚礁和非珊瑚礁物种之间的鳍、体型和下颌的进化速率提供一个框架。研究小组将测试珊瑚礁物种的摄食和游泳系统是否比非珊瑚礁物种更快地进化变化，以及主要的进化变化是否与关键的历史事件相对应，例如航道关闭或气候快速变化时期。 这项工作将为珊瑚礁（地球上最独特的栖息地之一）如何塑造海洋鱼类的生物多样性提供重要的新见解。通过揭示古气候事件如何影响物种丰富度的历史模式，这项研究将增进人们对人类造成的全球变化对珊瑚礁鱼类生物多样性影响的理解。外展工作——包括指导、研讨会和讲习班——将为来自代表性不足群体的新科学家提供培训，并推动国家研究界使用新开发的分析方法。