Dissertation Research: Morphological Versus Molecular Data in Reconstructing Phylogeny of Picinae

分子生物学与数字计算机的发展 使生物学家能够重建进化史 （精确度）有很大提高的准确性和精确度。 此外，通过研究形态，行为，生态和 物种的生理特性与可靠的 作为一个背景，人们可以理解的过程 决定了它们的进化 拟议的研究是对 北美啄木鸟的进化史基于 分子数据的计算机分析。 啄木鸟已经 在北美经历了快速的演变， 适应性复杂多样的物种。 此外该 许多物种的地理分布类似于 北美的许多其他动物和植物群;这些 常见模式源于幕式冰川作用的历史 在更新世冰河时期。 这项研究将作为一个模式 来了解这个复杂的地质时代， 对美国植物群的形成至关重要 States.

The development of molecular biology and digital computers has enabled biologists to reconstruct evolutionary history (phylogenies) with greatly improved accuracy and precision. Moreover, by studying morphological, behavioral, ecological and physiological characteristics of species with a reliable phylogeny as a backdrop, one can come to understand the processes that determined their evolution. The proposed research is a reconstruction of the evolutionary history of North American woodpeckers based on computer analysis of molecular data. The woodpeckers have undergone rapid evolution in North America resulting in many species with varying and complex adaptations. In addition, the geographic distribution of the many species is similar to that of many other groups of North American animals and plants; these common patterns result from the history of episodic glaciation during the Pleistocene Ice Age. This study will serve as a model for understanding that complex geological epoch that is so important to the formation of the fauna and flora of the United States.