International Research Fellow Awards: Gene Flow as a Constraint on Adaptive Evolution: A Test Within a Polymorphic Population of Lizards

0076183约旦国际研究员奖励计划使美国科学家和工程师能够在国外进行三到二十四个月的研究。该计划的奖励为联合研究提供了机会，并利用独特或互补的设施、专业知识和国外的实验条件。该奖项将为Mark A. Jordan博士提供为期18个月的支持，让他与英国伦敦动物学会的William Jordan博士一起工作。他们将研究基因流动对适应性进化的约束，在蜥蜴的多态种群中进行测试。理论预测，基因流动应该限制局部适应性进化。首席研究员建议使用加拉帕戈斯熔岩蜥蜴种群来验证这一假设，这些蜥蜴具有与运动性能相关的多态特征。他将使用微卫星DNA标记来确定种群内基因流动的数量。高水平的基因流动表明，自然选择必须是严格的，以维持微地理上的表现差异。动物研究所的威廉·乔丹和他的同事在应用分子技术分析自然种群中的微卫星方面有丰富的经验。首席研究员还将前往厄瓜多尔，并邀请那里的学生帮助他进行实地考察。这项研究将有利于加拉帕戈斯群岛正在进行的保护工作。这个项目将有助于估计人口结构和有效人口规模：这些措施对作出明智的管理决策至关重要。＊＊＊

0076183JordanThe International Research Fellow Awards Program enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twenty-four months of research abroad. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad.This award will provide Dr. Mark A. Jordan with support for eighteen months to work with Dr. William Jordan at the Zoological Society of London in the United Kingdom. They will study gene flow as a constraint on adaptive evolution, a test in a polymorphic population of lizards.Theory predicts that gene flow should constrain local adaptive evolution. The principal investigator proposes to test this hypothesis using a population of Galapagos lava lizards that is polymorphic for traits associated with locomotor performance. He will use microsatellite DNA markers to determine the amount of gene flow within the population. High levels of gene flow will suggest that natural selection must be severe to maintain microgeographic variation in performance.Dr. William Jordan and his colleagues at the Institute of Zoology have extensive experience in the application of molecular techniques for the analysis of microsatellites in natural populations. The principal investigator will also travel to Ecuador and will involve students from there to help with his fieldwork. This research will benefit ongoing conservation efforts in the Galapagos. This project will allow estimates of population structure and effective population size: measures that are critical in making informed management decisions. ***