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

适应性辐射发生在一个物种的生物多样化成几个物种，占据不同的生态位。 这一过程是生物多样性的一个常见生成器，但其背后的遗传变化尚未被记录在案。 寄生虫是地球上最具多样性的生物群体之一，人们认为它们在转换到新的宿主物种时会适应性地辐射。 这一过程将使用鸟类和羽虱来研究，羽虱是宿主特异性寄生虫，它们所有的时间都花在宿主的身体上。 虱子将在受控实验中在正常和新物种的圈养宿主之间转移。 虱子基因组的进化变化将被记录下来，因为它们经历了适应性辐射。 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。 一名博士后，两名博士。学生，并将培养几名本科生。 将为K-12学生开发两个演示自然选择适应的教育模块：“神秘生物”（K-6）和“亨克下来”（7-12）。 这些模块具有成本效益，易于实施。 他们的有效性将在犹他州大学科学和数学教育中心的帮助下进行评估。

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.