DISSERTATION RESEARCH: An interdisciplinary approach to testing intraspecific evolutionary processes

已知产生新物种的几种机制，但在海洋中研究这些过程比在陆地上研究要困难得多，因为这些过程往往不明显。这里展示的工作旨在更好地理解随着时间的推移，大陆和海洋的运动和形状变化是如何影响生物的。加利福尼亚湾只有大约600万年的历史，被下加利福尼亚半岛与太平洋隔开。这项工作研究了鱼类最初是如何在海湾定居的，过去是否有一条海道曾经连接过目前分离的种群，以及目前分离的鱼群今天是否正在成为不同的物种。首先，研究它们的DNA，以揭示这些种群之间的关系，并揭示它们过去的迁徙事件。第二，检查半岛上的岩石是因为它们反映了该地区？S过去的环境，并将表明一些土地在过去是否被水淹没。新物种的形成是全球生物多样性的主要贡献者，而下加利福尼亚州的物种数量和多样性比仅从其面积和位置上预期的要多。河口栖息地的大小、位置和气候特征一直在变化，但时间太长，科学家无法观察到。这项分子工作将有助于理解是什么过程产生并维持着南加利福尼亚和下加利福尼亚？S多样化的河口生物。将这项工作的信息传播给高中生和本科生（通过指导）以及居民（通过YouTube教育视频），以提高保护意识。与NFWS和NERRS等当局合作，不仅有助于将保护工作集中在今天多样化的地区，而且还有助于在未来保护和产生新物种。

Several mechanisms are known for generating new species, but studying these processes in the ocean is much more difficult than on land because such processes are frequently not apparent. The work presented here aims to better understand how the movement and changing shape of continents and oceans affect living organisms over time. The Gulf of California is only about 6 million years old and is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Baja California peninsula. This work examines how fishes originally colonized the Gulf, whether in the past a seaway once connected presently separated populations, and whether currently separated fish populations are becoming different species today. First, their DNA is studied to reveal the relationships between these populations and reveal their past migratory events. Second, the rocks on the peninsula are examined because they reflect the region?s past environment and would indicate whether or not some of the land was under water in the past. Formation of new species is a principle contributor to biodiversity across the world, and Baja California has a greater number and diversity of species than expected from its size and location alone. The size, location, and climatic characteristics of estuarine habitat are always changing, but on too long a timescale for scientists to observe. This molecular work will help understand what processes have generated and are maintaining southern and Baja California?s diverse estuarine life. Disseminating information from this work to high school and undergraduate students (through mentorships) and to residents (through educational YouTube videos) promotes conservation awareness. Working with authorities like the NFWS and NERRS helps focus conservation efforts not only on regions that are diverse today, but that are likely to preserve and generate new species in the future.