Inferring Process From Pattern Testing Population Genetic Theory With Temporal Genetic Data

这项研究的目的是利用史前信息来测试为什么动物种群在现代景观中分布的想法。 现代物种的地理变异有助于我们理解种群生物学。 这项研究很重要，因为很少有机会使用历史样本来调查自然功能生态系统中的种群结构。 这项研究将使用化石和现代标本来追踪北方落基山脉过去几千年来的两种啮齿动物物种（囊地鼠和山地田鼠）。 这项工作将揭示物种生活史的哪些方面，如传播能力，窝仔数和社会组织，必须在长期种群遗传数据分析中加以考虑。 化石沉积物跨越了几个气候变暖和变冷事件，从而为研究物种对环境变化的反应提供了背景。这项研究是新兴的古代DNA领域中第一个分析数千年来连续化石种群的研究。 通过评估时间和地理空间的遗传变异，这项研究将加深我们对物种历史和未来生存过程的理解。 研究结果将为具有不同生活史的哺乳动物如何应对气候变化提供历史背景。

0108541HadlyThe objective of this research is to use prehistoric information to test ideas about why animal populations are distributed as they are across modern landscapes. Geographic variation of modern species contributes to our understanding of population biology. The research is important because few opportunities exist to use historic samples to investigate population structure in naturally functioning ecosystems through time. This study will use fossil and modern specimens to trace two rodent species (pocket gophers and montane voles) through the last several thousand years in the northern Rocky Mountains. The work will reveal which aspects of a species' life history, such as dispersal ability, litter size and social organization, must be considered in the analysis of long-term population genetic data. The fossil deposits span several climatic warming and cooling events, thus providing a context for investigating species response to environmental change.This study is the first in the burgeoning field of ancient DNA to analyze sequential fossil populations through thousands of years. In assessing genetic variation through time and across geographic space, this study will deepen our understanding of processes underlying the history and future survival of species. Results will provide a historical context for how mammals with different life histories respond to climatic change.