Dissertation Research: Patterning of Genetic Variation Among Closely Related Butterflyfishes

蝴蝶鱼是研究海洋生物遗传变异和多样化模式的极好模型。它们是珊瑚礁群落中常见而引人注目的成员，具有相当大的生态多样性。本研究旨在整合种群遗传学（使用核和线粒体基因标记）和生态学，努力检查印度-西太平洋蝴蝶鱼相关物种的总体变异模式。印度-西太平洋的珊瑚礁群落是最多样化的，也可能受到威胁的海洋系统之一。对蝴蝶鱼的研究将从历史的角度为这些珊瑚礁群落的形成提供有价值的信息。此外，遗传和形态标记的结合使用将更好地评估占据这些珊瑚礁群落的各种蝴蝶鱼种群的独特性，这对生物多样性的保护和管理是绝对必要的。

Butterflyfishes make excellent models for studying patterns of genetic variation and diversification in marine organisms. They are common and conspicuous members of coral reef communities and display considerable ecological diversity. This study is designed to integrate population genetics (using both nuclear and mitochondrial gene markers) and ecology in an effort to examine overall patterns of variation seen in related species of Indo-west Pacific Butterflyfishes. Indo-west Pacific coral reef communities are some of the most diverse, and possibly threatened, marine systems. Research on Butterflyfishes will provide valuable information on how such coral reef communities form from an historical perspective. In addition, the combined use of genetic and morphological markers will provide a better assessment of the uniqueness of various Butterflyfish stocks occupying these coral reef communities, an absolute necessity for the preservation and management of biodiversity.