Comparative Anatomy, Phylogeny and Biogeography of Fossil and Living Gonorynchid Fishes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi)

化石和现生Gonorynchid鱼类的比较解剖学、系统发育和生物地理学Gonorynchidae是现存的原始ostarioprophans鱼类的一个家族，具有6500万年的悠久而保存完好的化石记录。Ostariophysi（例如鲤鱼，小鱼，鲶鱼）反过来，是地球上最大的鱼类群体之一（占所有淡水鱼的75%）。对这一基础鱼类群体的了解，（即，Gonorynchidae）将提供重要的信息，以更好地了解整个骨突海鞘的复杂历史。这项研究有三个明确的目标。首先，比较骨骼学和现存物种的发展将被检查。在纳入化石分类群之前，有必要首先了解近代形式。化石分类群往往保存不完整，发育阶段往往不可用。第二，根据目标1产生的数据，将对所有角喙科物种进行系统发育或进化分析。第三，从系统发育分析产生的数据将用于历史生物地理学的研究。如果我们假设地球和它的生物群是一起进化的，那么对生物群进化模式的理解应该会导致对地球历史的更好理解。因此，这个项目对那些对地球历史和全球变化感兴趣的人有更广泛的应用。这个项目的意义是多方面的。本研究将跨学科，将古生物学和新生物学联合收割机整合为一个项目。它将为Gonorynchidae提供第一个基于对所有化石和活物种进行彻底比较研究的系统发育学。这项研究的结果将最终导致更好地了解已知的最重要的硬骨鱼类之一，骨海龙。由于这项研究的良好约束性，它将被用作洛约拉大学和菲尔德博物馆的本科生和硕士生的培训工具。学生将有实践经验，从化石和现存类群的准备，数据收集和计算机分析这个项目的各个方面。从这个补助金的资金，沿着从洛约拉大学匹配的资金，将暴露学生的复杂性和做全面的解剖系统发育工作的智力奖励，并有助于比较形态学研究的长期健康一般。因此，这个项目超出了ostarioparanan系统学的限制，并将感兴趣的发育生物学家，地理学家和系统学家一般。该项目的目标不仅是为同事提供重要信息，而且还帮助承担教育和培训学生到其他学科的基础生物学领域的责任。

Comparative Anatomy, Phylogeny and Biogeography of Fossil and Living Gonorynchid Fishes The family Gonorynchidae is an extant family of primitive ostariophysan fishes with a long, and well-preserved fossil record dating over 65 million years. Ostariophysi (e.g. carps, minnows, catfishes) in turn, is one of the largest groups of fishes on earth (75% of all freshwater fishes). An understanding of this basal fish group, (i.e., Gonorynchidae) will provide vital information necessary to better understand the complicated history of the Ostariophysi as a whole. This study contains three clearly defined objectives. First, The comparative osteology and development of extant species will be examined. It is necessary to understand Recent forms first before including fossil taxa. Fossil taxa are often incompletely preserved and developmental stages are often not available. Second, based on the data generated from objective 1, a phylogenetic or evolutionary analysis of all gonorynchid species will be conducted. Third, data generated from the phylogenetic analysis will be used in a study of Historical Biogeography. If one assumes that the earth and its biota evolved together, than an understanding of the evolutionary patterns of the biota should lead to a better understanding of the history of the earth. This project thus has broader application to those interested in earth history and global change. The significance of this project is multifaceted. This study will cross disciplinary lines and combine paleontology and neontology into one project. It will provide the first phylogeny for Gonorynchidae that is based on a thorough comparative examination of all fossil and living species. Results from this study will ultimately result in a better understanding of one of the most important teleost fish groups known, the Ostariophysi. Because of the well-bounded nature of this study, it will be used as a training tool for undergraduate and Masters students at Loyola University and the Field Museum. Students will have hands-on experience to all aspects of this project from the preparation of both fossil and extant taxa to data collection and computer analyses. Funds from this grant, along with matching funds from Loyola University, will expose students to both the complexities and the intellectual rewards of doing comprehensive anatomical phylogenetic work, and contribute to the long-term health of comparative morphological studies in general. This project thus extends beyond the limits of ostariophysan systematics and will be of interested to developmental biologists, biogeographers and systematists in general. The goal of this project is not only to provide vital information to colleagues, but also to help assume the responsibility of educating and training students to a field of biology fundamental to other disciplines.