Molecular Systematics of a Rapidly Evolving Species Flock: The Mbuna (Cichlidae) of Lake Malawi

小行星9707532 缅因州大学的Irv Kornfield将利用高变微卫星标记来研究姆布纳鱼的系统学和生殖发育，姆布纳鱼是东非马拉维湖的一大群慈鲷鱼，与浅水岩石栖息地有着必然的联系。 姆布纳是一个高度物种化的组合，以在短时间内迅速和广泛的多样化而闻名。 因此，Mbuna代表了一个理想的模型系统，在其中检查过程（例如，栖息地破碎化，营养和空间生态位的变化，种间竞争的相互作用，和性选择）与物种形成和适应性辐射。 Kornfield将使用微卫星标记来构建一个假设，在非常大和复杂的mbuna属Pseudotopheus的主要谱系之间的关系。 然后将分子遗传学与主要基于形态和行为特征的遗传学进行比较。 科恩菲尔德还将研究在鳞片的形态和分布中发现的特征。 该项目的这一方面将与E.奥地利科学基金会的Leppitsch。 该项目的第二部分将是评估的假设，表现出生殖色的异域种群的姆布纳表现出间断分布模式的结果，vicariance。 另一种假设，即生殖颜色的相似性源于平行或收敛，也将进行评估。 解决系统发育关系内的mbuna的性选择和行为介导的生殖隔离的现象提供了基本的见解。 该项目涉及与马拉维科学家的重大合作，并由美国共同资助。国家科学基金会国际方案司的非洲方案。

9707532 Kornfield Irv Kornfield of the University of Maine will employ hypervariable microsatellite markers to study the systematics and phylogeny of the mbuna , a large group of cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi, East Africa, that have obligate ties to shallow, rocky habitats.. Mbuna represent a highly speciose assemblage known for rapid and extensive diversification over a short periods of time. Mbuna thus represent an ideal model system in which to examine processes (e.g., habitat fragmentation, trophic and spatial niche shifts, interspecific agonistic interaction, and sexual selection) that are associated with speciation and adaptive radiation. Kornfield will use microsatellite markers to construct a hypothesis of relationships among major lineages within the extremely large and complex mbuna genus Pseudotopheus. The molecular phylogeny will then be compared to one based primarily on morphological and behavioral traits. Kornfield also will examine characters found in the morphology and distribution of scales. This aspect of the project will be in collaboration with E. Leppitsch of the Austrian Science Foundation. A second part of the project will be to evaluate the hypothesis that allopatric populations of mbuna that display reproductive coloration exhibit the disjunct patterns of distribution as a consequence of vicariance. An alternate hypothesis, that the similarities in reproductive coloration stem from parallelism or convergence, also will be evaluated. Resolution of phylogenetic relationships within the mbuna will provide fundamental insights into the phenomena of sexual selection and behaviorally-mediated reproductive isolation. The project involves significant collaboration with a scientist from Malawi, and is co-funded by the U.S.-Africa Program in the Division of International Programs at the NSF.