CAREER: Testing the contributions of selection, gene-flow, and recombination to reinforcement

要理解生物多样性的产生，就需要弄清楚物种形成是如何以及为什么发生的。物种形成涉及到不同物种之间繁殖障碍的建立。这种积累可能是自然选择和基因流动等进化力量相互作用的结果。这项研究调查了这些进化力量在一组三个本地德州福禄考野花。以这三个物种为重点，研究将确定生殖隔离是如何以及为什么演变的。在整个德克萨斯州，可以发现这些种类的野花在种群中生长在一起并杂交。这项研究涉及详细调查是什么驱动性状的进化，以减少一对物种之间的杂交，并防止这些性状在另一对物种中的进化。这项研究将生态学研究与遗传学和基因组学研究相结合。通过这样做，它将测试长期存在的关于物种如何以及为什么形成的假设。该项目将本科生融入基于课程的研究体验。这种经验将使学生学习物种形成动手，并了解科学方法。通过与当地自然历史博物馆合作，本项目将让K-12年级的学生和教师参与以植物进化为基础的活动。本项目将调查选择、基因流动和重组如何有助于共生物种之间生殖隔离的进化。福禄考drummondii共同发生与两个密切相关的福禄考物种，但已经进化增加生殖隔离，只有这两个物种之一。为了确定为什么一个物种会进化出生殖隔离，而另一个物种不会，这个项目将测量杂交的成本。此外，该研究还将测量现有生殖障碍的强度以及物种之间基因流动的数量和方向。该项目将传粉者吸引力的实地研究与控制交配和杂交成功的温室研究相结合。此外，它还将包括详细的基因组研究，以调查物种之间生殖隔离和基因流动的遗传结构。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并且通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响进行评估，被认为值得支持审查标准。

Understanding the generation of biodiversity involves figuring out how and why speciation occurs. Speciation involves the buildup of barriers to reproduction between diverging species. This buildup can result from the interplay of evolutionary forces such as natural selection and gene flow. This research investigates these evolutionary forces in a group of three native Texas Phlox wildflowers. Focusing on these three species, the research will determine how and why reproductive isolation evolves. Across Texas, these species of wildflowers can be found growing together in populations and hybridizing. This research involves a detailed investigation of what drives the evolution of traits to decrease hybridization between one pair of species and prevents the evolution of these traits in another pair. This research combines ecological studies with genetic and genomic studies. By doing so, it will test long standing hypotheses about how and why species form. This project integrates undergraduate students in a course-based research experience. This experience will allow students to study speciation hands-on and learn about the scientific method. By working with the local natural history museum, this project will engage K-12 grade students and teachers in plant evolution-based activities.This project investigates how selection, gene flow, and recombination contribute to the evolution of reproductive isolation between co-occurring species. Phlox drummondii co-occurs with two closely related Phlox species but has evolved increased reproductive isolation with only one of these two species. To determine why reproductive isolation evolves with one species and not the other this project will measure the cost of hybridization. Further, the research will measure the strength of existing barriers to reproduction and the amount and direction of gene flow between species. This project integrates field-based studies of pollinator attraction with greenhouse studies of controlled matings and hybrid success. In addition, it will include detailed genomic studies to investigate the genetic architecture of reproductive isolation and gene flow between species.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.