Evolution of Species and Signal Diversity in the Neotropical Electric Fish Gymnotus

为探讨新热带鱼类物种多样性的起源，本项目将研究一种多样性很强的弱带电刀鱼属--裸背刀鱼的分类、系统学、行为、生理和地理分布。裸腹鱼的物种使用刻板的物种特异性电器官放电（EODs）进行交流。这些电信号为物种识别和物种形成机制提供了一个独特的窗口。该项目将对该属进行彻底的分类学修订，汇编记录的电信号库，并描述来自南美洲和中美洲的多达30个新物种。为了解决进化关系，形态学数据和基因序列将被用来编制系统发育树。这些将被用来评估地理和通信信号在产生物种多样性中的作用，这一跨学科项目产生的数据和分析将成为动物如何在大陆范围内多样化的教科书案例-扩展以前物种形成研究的概念，分类和地理完整性。项目资源将用于培训来自不同学科（生命科学，计算机科学，工程和数学）的本科生和研究生，并促进美国，加拿大和八个南美和中美洲国家科学家之间的学术关系。通过阐明受威胁热带环境中物种多样性的模式，这项研究还将为保护科学和政策提供宝贵的数据。

To explore the origins of species diversity in Neotropical fishes, this project will study the taxonomy, systematics, behavior, physiology and geographical distribution of a diverse genus of weakly electric knife-fishes, Gymnotus. Species of Gymnotus use stereotyped species-specific electric organ discharges (EODs) to communicate. These electric signals provide a unique window on the mechanisms of species recognition and speciation. This project will produce a thorough taxonomic revision of the genus, compile libraries of recorded electric signals, and describe up to 30 new species from South and Central America. To resolve evolutionary relationships, morphological data and gene sequences will be utilized to compile phylogenetic trees. These will be used to evaluate the role of geography and communication signals in generating species diversity.The data and analyses arising from this interdisciplinary project will become a textbook case of how animals diversify at the continental scale - extending the conceptual, taxonomic and geographical completeness of previous studies of speciation. Project resources will be used to train undergraduate and graduate students from diverse disciplines (life sciences, computer sciences, engineering and mathematics) and to foster scholarly relationships between scientists in the USA, Canada, and eight South and Central American nations. By clarifying patterns of species diversity in threatened tropical environments, this study will also contribute valuable data for conservation science and policy.