The evolution of mammalian diversity in a changing environment

不断变化的环境中哺乳动物多样性的演变

• 批准号: 341918-2012
• 负责人: Millien, Virginie
• 金额: $ 1.53万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=572414
• 关键词: evolution; mammalian; diversity; changing; environment

My research program to seeks a stronger fundamental understanding of the conditions underlying adaptive responses to environmental change through the study of temporal and spatial variation of morphological diversity. Contemporary changes in climate are happening at a greatly accelerated pace, and we urgently require a clear understanding of the potential impacts of these changes on living organisms. The current rate of climate warming is unprecedented on Earth, so the future state of evolving populations cannot be easily predicted. Morphological variation among individuals is linked to the environment through selection and adaptation. So similar conditions of the environment should lead to the evolution of similar phenotypes. The patterns of geographical morphological variation in relation with the local climate are well established among mammals and they constitute some of the few rules known to modern biology. My overarching hypothesis is that the patterns of morphological changes in time echo the patterns of morphological variation in space. Hence we can predict how populations will evolve in response to climate change from surveys of their current geographical variation. My research program is designed to reveal how small mammals in Québec have responded and will continue to respond to ongoing climate warming and fragmentation of their natural habitat. My work will contribute to enlarging the temporal scale at which the evolution of biodiversity may be studied. This research has some important practical implications, in the fields of species adaptation and long-term conservation. It will help to improve our knowledge of the adaptive limits and evolutionary potential of species in rapidly changing environments. At present, such data are not only clearly needed but are also not available for most species.

我的研究项目旨在通过研究形态多样性的时空变化，对环境变化的适应性反应条件有更深入的基本了解。 当代气候变化的速度大大加快，我们迫切需要清楚地了解这些变化对生物体的潜在影响。目前的气候变暖速度在地球上是前所未有的，因此人口演变的未来状态难以预测。个体之间的形态变异通过选择和适应与环境相联系。因此，相似的环境条件应该导致相似的表型进化。与当地气候有关的地理形态变化模式在哺乳动物中已经确立，它们构成了现代生物学所知的少数规则。我的首要假设是，形态变化的模式在时间上呼应了形态变化的模式在空间上。因此，我们可以预测人口将如何演变，以应对气候变化的调查，他们目前的地理变化。 我的研究计划旨在揭示魁北克省的小型哺乳动物如何应对并将继续应对持续的气候变暖和自然栖息地的破碎化。我的工作将有助于扩大生物多样性演化研究的时间尺度。这项研究在物种适应和长期保护领域具有重要的实际意义。这将有助于提高我们对物种在快速变化的环境中的适应极限和进化潜力的认识。目前，这种数据不仅是明确需要的，而且大多数物种都没有。