DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Phylogenetics of the Lamprologini (Teleostei: Cichlidae) Based on Morphology and Molecules

Lamprologines是一种研究非洲大湖鱼类进化和物种形成的模型组，最近的几项分子研究中都包含了Lamprologines，但这些研究只使用了一到两个基因，而且只包括不到三分之一的Lamprologine物种，而忽略了西非和中部非洲河流鱼类的多样性。没有一个人使用了形态学。这项研究将利用几个线粒体和核基因的形态和DNA序列，详尽地采集刚果河和坦噶尼喀湖的鳗鱼和不同的外群，包括其他湖系和来自西非和中非的江豚的完整样本，深入研究Lamprologine的系统发育。这项研究将极大地提高对叶蝉科系统发育的认识。在Lam序中，它将揭示有趣的进化问题，包括河流和湖泊之间过渡的数量和性质，贝类居住的进化和伴随的微型化，以及群体内形态趋同的程度。除了提高我们对大型热带湖泊物种形成的理解外，这些新的系统发生学见解将有助于政策制定者规划保护战略。

Lamprologines, a model group for studying the evolution and speciation ofAfrican Great Lake cichlids, have been included in several recent molecular studies.However, these studies have used only one or two genes, and have included fewer than athird of lamprologine species, while neglecting the diversity of riverine cichlids in Westand Central Africa. None have employed morphology. This study will thoroughlyinvestigate lamprologine phylogenetics using both morphology and DNA sequences fromseveral mitochondrial and nuclear genes, exhaustively sampling both Congo River andLake Tanganyika lamprologines and diverse outgroups, including other lacustrinelineages and a complete sampling of riverine cichlids from West and Central Africa. Byresolving the placement of lamprologines within the African cichlid radiation, this studywill greatly improve knowledge of cichlid phylogeny. Within lamprologines, it will shedlight on intriguing evolutionary questions, including the number and nature of transitionsbetween rivers and lakes, the evolution of shell-dwelling and concomitant miniturization,and the extent of morphological convergence within the group. In addition to improvingour understanding of speciation in large tropical lakes, these new phylogenetic insightswill assist policy makers in planning conservation strategies.