Evolutionary radiations in South African Proteaceae

像Galápagos雀鸟那样的适应性辐射，可以在很短的进化时间内导致动植物的广泛多样性。但并非所有的辐射都具有适应性。南部非洲的开普植物群是世界上最丰富和最多样化的植物群之一，但其多样性似乎涉及适应性和非适应性进化。本项目将研究Proteaceae植物家族中的一个群体，以确定其辐射是否主要是适应性的还是非适应性的。将在实验花园和野生种群中测量植物性状，以确定它们与生长和繁殖的关系，并确定与物种差异有关的性状。这些性状的变异将与中性遗传标记的变异进行比较，以确定性状差异是自然选择的结果，还是与地理隔离相关的随机分化的结果。来自南非国家生物多样性研究所（SANBI）的科学家将在该项目上进行合作，该项目将加强SANBI的生物区域规划倡议。实地工作将使教师、学生和博士后研究人员沉浸在丰富的多元文化环境中。该项目将吸引本科生和高中生，特别强调高中学生的比例很大，这些学生来自科学领域代表性不足的群体。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

Adaptive radiations, like that of the Galápagos finches, can lead to a wide diversity of plants and animals in a short evolutionary time. But not all radiations are adaptive. The Cape flora of southern Africa is among the richest and most diverse in the world, but its diversity appears to involve both adaptive and non-adaptive evolution. This project will examine a group in the plant family Proteaceae to determine whether its radiation has been primarily adaptive or non-adaptive. Plant traits will be measured in experimental gardens and wild populations to determine their relationship to growth and reproduction and to identify traits associated with species differences. Variation in these traits will be compared to variation in neutral genetic markers to determine trait differences are the result of natural selection or of random differentiation associated with geographic isolation.Scientists from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) will collaborate on the project, and the project will enhance SANBI''s bioregional planning initiatives. Field work will immerse faculty, students, and post-doctoral research associates in a rich multicultural environment. The project will engage both undergraduates and high school students, with special emphasis on high schools with large proportions of students from groups underrepresented in science. This award is co-funded by NSF''s Office of International Science and Engineering.