Dissertation Research: Reconstructing the Phylogeny of Anas and Interpreting the Evolution of Behavior

9423465 McKinney该项目是利用分子mDNA序列数据研究ANAS属的涉水鸭子之间的进化关系。分子系统发育将与系统发育的形态估计进行比较。然后，行为和羽毛特征的进化将被映射到树上，并用于测试繁殖行为、父母照顾策略、羽毛变异和求偶展示的进化假说。%这项研究在提供一个系统发育框架方面具有重要意义，可以从这个框架来解决关于这群鸭子的行为进化和生态的更广泛的问题。***

9423465 McKinney The project is a study of the evolutionary relationships among dabbling ducks of the genus Anas using molecular mDNA sequence data. The molecular phylogeny will be compared with morphologic estimates of phylogeny. The evolution of behavioral and plumage characters will then be mapped onto the tree and used to test hypotheses of the evolution of breeding behavior, parental care strategies, plumage variation and courtship displays. %%% The study is significant in providing a phylogenetic framework from which to address broader questions about the evolution of behavior and the ecology of this group of ducks. ***