DISSERTATION RESEARCH: MIMETIC DIVERGENCE AND THE EVOLUTION OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN THE MIMIC POISON FROG, RANITOMEYA IMITATOR

了解物种如何形成是了解生物多样性如何产生的核心目标。物种形成可能由许多原因驱动，例如，通过单一物种对不同环境的适应，这一过程称为生态物种形成。模拟辐射（当一个单一的物种适应性地辐射类似于不同的模式物种）代表了研究生态物种形成的理想场景。我们已经确定了一种模仿辐射的秘鲁毒蛙，Ranitomeya模仿者，经历了分歧的颜色模式，模仿四个不相关的模式物种。本项目的目的是评估是否模仿分歧导致生殖隔离之间的不同模仿变种的R。模仿者为了验证这一点，本项目将评估模仿变体之间的生殖隔离，使用人口遗传分析，择偶实验和广告电话的分析相结合。这个项目可能有助于阐明是否生态物种形成发生在一个可预测的方式，确定是否形态分歧是一个预测生殖隔离。研究物种，Ranitomeya模仿者，最近因其显着的父母照顾策略而受到高度宣传，无论是BBC（？冷血的生活？系列）和NHK（日本广播公司，目前正在制作）。然而，令人惊讶的是，关于这个物种的研究很少。迷人的拟态系统，这可能是因为这个物种的这方面几乎没有被研究过。由于模仿提供了一个如此强大的自然选择的视觉例子，这项研究可能有助于把这个物种的这方面？生物学在公众眼中

Understanding how species form is a central goal for understanding how biodiversity is generated. Speciation may be driven by many causes, for example, by adaptation of a single species to distinct environments, a process known as ecological speciation. A mimetic radiation (when a single species adaptively radiates to resemble distinct model species) represents an ideal scenario for studying ecological speciation. We have identified a mimetic radiation in a species of Peruvian poison frog, Ranitomeya imitator, that has undergone divergence in color pattern to mimic four unrelated model species. The goal of this project is to assess whether mimetic divergence has led to reproductive isolation among different mimetic morphs of R. imitator. To test this, this project will assess reproductive isolation between mimetic morphs using a combination of population genetic analyses, mate choice experiments, and analyses of advertisement calls. This project may help elucidate whether ecological speciation occurs in a predictable way by identifying whether morphological divergence is a predictor of reproductive isolation. The study species, Ranitomeya imitator, has been highly publicized recently for its remarkable parental care strategies, both by the BBC (?Life in Cold Blood? series) and by the NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation, currently in production). However, surprisingly little has been made about this species? fascinating mimicry system, which may be because this aspect of the species has barely been studied. As mimicry provides such a visually powerful example of natural selection, this research may help bring this aspect of this species? biology to the public eye.