DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Integrative Morphological Evolution in Philippine Forest Lizards of the Genus Sphenomorphus

小型化身体形态的进化在脊椎动物身上发生了很多次。这个项目将研究菲律宾的细长石龙虾属内小型化的进化过程。这些蜥蜴在多个独立的事件中进化出了微型物种，从而可以测试形态发育和成年身体形态之间的相关性。将遗传数据、成体形态、生态学和个体发育结合在一起，可以用一种综合的方法来理解斯肯克人的小型化身体形态的进化。这项研究将是第一次对与蜥蜴小型化相关的个体发育变化进行综合检查。此外，这项研究是第一次对东南亚斯基克的不同群体进行系统发育研究，这些斯基克在分类学上有着悠久的历史，可以追溯到19世纪。将与来自多所大学的菲律宾学生合作进行实地工作，以便进行实地方法和发育生物学方面的培训。分子和形态数据的收集将涉及堪萨斯大学本科生的培训，为他们提供科学研究经验。所有收集到的数据都将通过一个关于骨骼形态和分类学的在线数据库向公众开放。

The evolution of a miniaturized body form has occurred many times in vertebrate animals. This project will investigate the evolutionary process of miniaturization within the diminutive skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus from the Philippines. These lizards have evolved miniaturized species during multiple, independent events, allowing for a test of correlation between morphological development and adult body form. The incorporation of genetic data, adult morphology, ecology, and ontogenetic development allows for an integrative approach to understanding the evolution of miniaturized body form in skinks. This study will be the first integrative examination of ontogenetic change associated with miniaturization in lizards. Furthermore, this study is the first phylogenetic examination of a diverse group of Southeast Asian skinks that have a long history of taxonomic ambiguity reaching back to the 19th century. Fieldwork will be conducted in collaboration with Filipino students from multiple universities, allowing training in field methodologies and developmental biology. Collection of molecular and morphological data will involve the training of undergraduates at the University of Kansas, providing them with experience in scientific research. All data collected will be available to the public through an online database of skink morphology and taxonomy.