Speciation and Isozyme Evolution of Freshwater Fishes in Northern Gulf Coast Drainages

本研究比较了美国北部墨西哥湾沿岸一些系统发育无关的淡水鱼群的分子进化模式，这些鱼类显示出共同的物种形成模式。这些物种形成模式与中新世（大约400万年前）以来影响该地区的四次地质事件中最近的一次有关。这些物种形成模式遵循某些由研究人员先前开发的理论模型预测的系统发育和生物地理模式。还将研究某些独特的物种形成模式，这些模式意味着同一地区的不同历史，以提供对比数据。

This study compares patterns of molecular evolution in a number of phylogenetically unrelated groups of freshwater fishes that show common speciation patterns along the northern Gulf Coast of the United States. These speciation patterns are correlated with the most recent of four geological events that have affected this region since the Miocene (approximately 4 million years ago). These speciation patterns follow certain phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns predicted by theoretical models previously developed by the investigators. Certain unique speciation patterns, that imply different histories in the same region, will also be studied to provide contrasting data.