Collaborative Research: Genomic approaches to comparative phylogeography in a biodiversity hotspot

这个项目探讨了生物体如何、何时以及为什么多样化并成为独特的物种。焦点系统是生物多样性研究的热点：墨西哥松橡树林地。34种标志性脊椎动物的采样将在墨西哥的四个主要山脉和美国的相关地区进行。种类包括21种鸟类、4种两栖动物和9种爬行动物。DNA数据将使用捕获数百个基因组区域的新技术收集，这些数据将被分析以确定：(1)是否存在被忽视的隐藏物种；(2)共同屏障（如低地地区）是否影响了物种间的多样化；(3)物种起源的时间是否与深时间的造山期或冰川循环期相吻合。这项研究将揭示世界上以物种丰富而闻名的部分地区的新的生物多样性，该地区正受到栖息地丧失的严重威胁。了解生物多样性的基本单位是减轻这类威胁的第一步。这项研究还将有助于了解生物多样性是如何产生的以及在什么时间尺度上产生的。所有收集到的标本将被存放在美国两家博物馆的自然历史藏品中，并将用于许多其他研究——自然历史藏品是生物多样性的公共资源库，在从公共卫生和疾病到基础科学的各个主题上具有几乎无限的未来潜力。

This project addresses how, when, and why organisms diversify and become distinct species. The focal system is an under-studied biodiversity hotspot: Mexican pine-oak woodlands. Sampling of 34 emblematic vertebrates will occur across four major mountain ranges in Mexico and linked regions in the United States. Species include 21 birds, 4 amphibians, and 9 reptiles. DNA data will be collected using novel techniques that capture hundreds of genomic regions, which will be assayed to determine: (1) if there are overlooked cryptic species; (2) whether common barriers (e.g. lowland regions) have influenced diversification across species; and (3) whether the timing of species origins coincides with periods of mountain building or glacial cycling through deep time.This study will uncover new biodiversity in a part of the world that is known for its species richness and that is under severe threat from habitat loss. Knowing the basic units of biodiversity is the first step toward mitigating such threats. This study will also help understand how biodiversity is generated and over what timescale. All specimens collected will be deposited in natural history collections at two U.S. museums, and will be available for many other studies -- natural history collections are public repositories of biodiversity with virtually limitless future potential on subjects ranging from public health and disease to basic science.