DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Tempo and Mode of Diversification in Megophryid Frogs

论文研究：巨蜥蛙多样化的节奏和模式

• 批准号: 0910309
• 负责人: Michael Alfaro
• 金额: $ 1.49万
• 依托单位: Washington State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-05-01 至 2011-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0910309&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Tempo; Mode; Diversification

A significant challenge in evolutionary biology lies in explaining why some groups are more diverse than others. This research investigates factors that produce species richness and diversity of forms (and the relationship between these two factors) within a major group of frogs, the Asian Toadfrogs (family Megophryidae). This family is exceptionally diverse, both in terms of number of species and variation in size, shape, and ecology. The investigators will use DNA sequences and information from fossils to construct an evolutionary tree of species relationships, which they will then use to test hypotheses about evolutionary rates of diversification. The addition of geographical distribution data affords the opportunity to test whether historically important geological events also affected changes in biodiversity.This work will provide key insight into the timing of diversification events and the mechanisms that led to the species diversity we observe today. It will advance our knowledge of the role that animal form has with regard to species diversification and will provide important new insights into adaptive radiation, a phenomenon of general biological interest. Outreach will include training students in modern laboratory techniques and convening several public education programs in rural Washington, including workshops on evolution and museum displays of frog biodiversity.

进化生物学的一个重大挑战在于解释为什么一些群体比其他群体更多样化。本研究调查了一种主要蛙类——亚洲蟾蜍蛙（蛙科）中产生物种丰富度和形态多样性的因素（以及这两个因素之间的关系）。无论是在物种数量上，还是在大小、形状和生态上的变化上，这个科都异常多样化。研究人员将使用DNA序列和化石信息来构建物种关系的进化树，然后他们将用它来测试关于多样化进化速度的假设。地理分布数据的增加提供了检验历史上重要的地质事件是否也影响生物多样性变化的机会。这项工作将为多样化事件的时间和导致我们今天观察到的物种多样性的机制提供关键见解。它将促进我们对动物形态在物种多样化方面的作用的认识，并将为适应性辐射（一种普遍感兴趣的生物学现象）提供重要的新见解。拓展工作将包括培训学生掌握现代实验室技术，并在华盛顿农村地区举办若干公共教育项目，包括进化论研讨会和在博物馆展示青蛙的生物多样性。