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

当一种生物体多样化成几个占据不同生态位的物种时，就会发生适应性辐射。这一过程是生物多样性的常见生成者，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有机体之一，人们认为它们在切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，这是宿主特有的寄生虫，它们所有的时间都呆在宿主身上。虱子将在正常和新的圈养宿主之间进行对照实验。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会对基础研究以及人类和动物健康产生影响。基因组数据将保存在公共数据库中。一名博士后助理、两名博士生和几名本科生将接受培训。将为K-12学生开发两个演示通过自然选择进行适应的教育模块：“神秘生物”(K-6)和“隐形人”(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.