The evolutionary genetics of reinforcement: an empirical study in neotropical Costus

强化的进化遗传学：新热带海岸的实证研究

• 批准号: 0947138
• 负责人: Kathleen Kay
• 金额: $ 13.5万
• 依托单位: University of California-Santa Cruz
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0947138&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: evolutionary; genetics; reinforcement; empirical; study

Understanding the role that natural selection plays in the origin of species is a central goal of evolutionary biology. Population genetics theory shows that, in special circumstances, natural selection can reinforce reproductive barriers between recently diverged species living in the same geographic area, but this theory has not been adequately addressed with data from natural systems. This project examines the evolutionary genetics of this process in a rapidly speciating group of tropical plants for which prior research has found evidence of reinforcement of reproductive barriers. The research uses genetic mapping techniques to characterize the genetic basis of the traits and mechanisms that reproductively isolate two recently diverged species, field experiments to better understand the ecological consequences of those traits, and molecular markers to assess historical patterns of gene flow between the species.The idea that natural selection can directly favor speciation is important, because it shows a direct link between the processes of adaptation and speciation and because it elucidates a route for diversification to occur without prolonged periods of geographic isolation. This research empirically addresses the circumstances under which selection can reinforce speciation in a comprehensive way that links ecological factors and the underlying genetic processes. The results will be broadly applicable to understanding how certain groups of organisms and geographic areas have diversified without long periods of time or geographic isolation. The project will train young scientists in molecular genetics and evolution, and provide opportunities for them to conduct field research in a tropical rainforest.

理解自然选择在物种起源中的作用是进化生物学的核心目标。群体遗传学理论表明，在特殊情况下，自然选择可以加强生活在同一地理区域的最近分化物种之间的生殖障碍，但这一理论尚未得到充分的自然系统的数据。该项目研究了这一过程的进化遗传学，在一个快速形成的热带植物群中，先前的研究已经发现了生殖障碍强化的证据。这项研究使用遗传图谱技术来描述两个最近分化的物种在生殖上隔离的性状和机制的遗传基础，通过田间实验来更好地了解这些性状的生态后果，并使用分子标记来评估物种之间基因流动的历史模式。自然选择可以直接促进物种形成的想法很重要，因为它显示了适应过程和物种形成之间的直接联系，还因为它阐明了在没有长期地理隔离的情况下发生多样化的途径。这项研究经验性地解决了选择可以以一种全面的方式加强物种形成的情况，这种方式将生态因素和潜在的遗传过程联系起来。这些结果将广泛适用于了解某些生物群体和地理区域如何在没有长时间或地理隔离的情况下多样化。该项目将对年轻科学家进行分子遗传学和进化方面的培训，并为他们提供在热带雨林进行实地研究的机会。

项目成果

The genetic basis of floral mechanical isolation between two hummingbird‐pollinated Neotropical understorey herbs

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.16165
• 发表时间: 2021-09
• 期刊: Molecular Ecology
• 影响因子: 4.9
• 作者: Kathleen M. Kay;Y. Surget-Groba