DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Lost World frogs: Understanding the diversification history and phylogeographic patterns of sky island endemics

南美洲的tepuis是独特的平顶山脉，高出圭亚那地盾3000米。许多研究人员认为，在tepuis发现的巨大物种特有现象是数百万年在山顶隔离的结果。然而，这个故事可能要复杂得多，涉及到最近的扩散和对气候变化的反应。该项目将通过两种主要方法来调查孤立的tepui对多样化的作用：(A)估计在高地受限的蛙类中，物种何时分化，以确定它们是自tepui形成（约7万年前）以来一直被隔离在山顶上，还是最近才分散；(B)估算3个特普伊山顶间的种群连通性，以确定特普伊景观对2个特有种遗传参数的影响。由于tepuis是地球上最激烈的景观特征之一，因此这项研究对理解激烈的景观（如天空岛）对人口连通性的影响，从而对生物多样性的影响水平做出了重大贡献。此外，这项研究将与国际科学家建立伙伴关系，并在系统遗传学、群体遗传学和生物多样性研究方面培养学生。

The tepuis of South America are unique flat-topped mountains rising 3000m above the Guiana Shield. Many researchers believe the enormous species endemism found in tepuis is a result of millions of years of isolation atop summits. However, it is likely that the story is much more complex, involving recent dispersals and responses to climatic shifts. This project will investigate the role of isolated tepuis on diversification using two main approaches: (A) estimations of when species within a highland-restricted frog group diverged, to determine if they have been isolated atop summits since tepui formation (about 70 mya) or dispersed more recently; (B) estimation of population connectivity among three tepui summits, to determine the effect of tepui landscape on genetic parameters of two summit endemic species.Because tepuis are some of the most drastic landscape features on earth, this study is a significant contribution to understanding the effects that drastic landscapes such as sky islands have on population connectivity, and thus on impacting levels of biodiversity. Additionally, this research will build partnerships with international scientists and train students in phylogenetics, population genetics, and biodiversity research.