马鸡属鸟类的物种分化模式研究

物种形成（Speciation）是进化生物学研究的核心问题之一。马鸡属（Crossoptilon）是我国鸟类的一个特有属，包含四种马鸡，即白马鸡（Crossoptilon crossoptilon）、藏马鸡（Crossoptilon harmani）、蓝马鸡（Crossoptilon auritum）和褐马鸡（Crossoptilon mantchuricum）,由于它们分布区少有重叠且生态环境有差异，是研究物种分化的理想对象。本项目拟利用新一代转录组测序技术，结合生物信息学方法、ABC近似贝氏计算统计等方法，查明四种马鸡的分化时间与基因流程度，探讨地理隔离和生态压力在促进物种形成中的相对重要性；在此基础上筛选与马鸡分化有关的功能基因，并尝试对与之相关的表型进行定量分析，初步确定基因型-表型相关关系。

Speciation is one of the core issues in evolutionary biology. Crossoptilon is endemic to China, including White Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon), Tibetan Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani), Blue Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) and Brown Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum). Considering they have little overlap of the distribution and live in different ecological environment, these four species are the ideal species for studying species divergence. This project will use the new generation of transcriptome sequencing technology, combining with bioinformatics methods, Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) method and other statistical methods, investigate the divergent time and gene flow suspend time of the four species, explore the relative importance of geographical isolation and ecological pressures in the divergence; Screening functiion genes involved in species divergence and try to quantitative analysis of the associated phenotype, build the genotype-phenotype relationship finally.