Collaborative Research: Dimensions: Experimental adaptive radiation - genomics of diversification in bird lice

当一种生物分化成几个占据不同生态位的物种时，适应性辐射就发生了。这一过程是生物多样性的常见产生因素，但其背后的基因变化尚未被记录在案。寄生虫是地球上最多样化的生物群体之一，人们认为当它们转换到新的宿主物种时，会产生适应性辐射。这个过程将用鸟类和羽毛虱来研究，它们是宿主特有的寄生虫，所有时间都在宿主身上度过。在控制实验中，虱子将在正常和新的圈养宿主物种之间转移。当虱子经历适应性辐射时，它们基因组的进化变化将被记录下来。这项工作的结果可能对基础研究以及人类和动物健康产生影响。基因组数据将存入公共数据库。培养博士后1人，博士生2人，本科生数人。将为K-12学生开发两个展示自然选择适应的教育模块：“神秘动物”（K-6）和“蹲下”（7-12）。这些模块具有成本效益，易于实现。他们的有效性将在犹他大学科学和数学教育中心的协助下进行评估。

Adaptive radiation occurs when one species of organism diversifies into several species that occupy distinct ecological niches. The process is a common generator of biodiversity, yet the genetic changes underlying it have not been documented. Parasites, one of the most diverse groups of organisms on earth, are thought to adaptively radiate as they switch to new species of hosts. This process will be studied using birds and feather lice, which are host specific parasites that spend all of their time on the host's body. Lice will be transferred in controlled experiments between normal and novel species of captive hosts. Evolutionary changes in genomes of the lice will be documented as they undergo adaptive radiation. The results of this work may have implications for basic research, as well as human and animal health. Genomic data will be deposited in public databases. One postdoctoral associate, two Ph.D. students, and several undergraduate students will be trained. Two educational modules demonstrating adaptation by natural selection will be developed for K-12 students: "cryptic critters" (K-6) and "hunker down" (7-12). These modules are cost effective and easy to implement. Their effectiveness will be assessed with assistance from the University of Utah Center for Science and Math Education.