RUI: Collaborative Research: Marine Algal Diversity of Southern Central America

尽管历史上有相反的说法，但最近对巴拿马海藻多样性的研究表明，海洋植物群物种丰富，包括科学上的新物种和可能代表重要天然化合物来源的物种。该项目将通过在加勒比海和热带太平洋东部进行密集的基于水下呼吸器的实地调查、现场采集标本的活培养以及海藻DNA的比较，阐明海藻多样性的模式。这项工作将导致建立一个海藻多样性的基线，据此可以评估环境变化，并据此可以检验进化假说。具体而言，概述了一个战略，以解释为什么中美洲加勒比和太平洋沿岸的藻类物种组成是如此相似，在动物多样性的一般模式相比，不同的（虽然密切相关）的物种栖息在相反的海岸。该项目的一个主要倡议是在中美洲南部建立一个海藻科学家协作组织，促进对海藻进化和海藻地理学的长期研究。40多名学生和科学家（来自巴拿马、哥斯达黎加、萨尔瓦多和哥伦比亚的大学、史密森热带研究所和美国合作机构）将接受海藻鉴定、分子系统学和海藻培养方面的培训，作为这项研究的一部分，或通过分类讲习班接受培训。这项研究将增进对热带海藻的分布和多样性以及中美洲地峡的生物历史的了解，并最终编写一系列关于巴拿马海洋植物群的双语鉴定指南。国际科学与工程办公室共同资助该奖项，以帮助支持美国学生参与这项国际研究活动。

Despite historical references to the contrary, recent study of Panamanian seaweed diversity has revealed a marine flora rich in species, including species new to science and species that may represent sources of important natural compounds. This project will elucidate patterns of seaweed diversity through intensive SCUBA-based field surveys in the Caribbean Sea and eastern tropical Pacific, live culture of field-collected specimens, and comparisons of seaweed DNA. The work will result in the establishment of a baseline of seaweed diversity upon which environmental change can be assessed, and upon which evolutionary hypotheses can be tested. Specifically, a strategy is outlined to explain why algal species composition on Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Central America is so similar, in comparison to the general pattern of zoological diversity in which distinct (though closely related) species inhabit opposite coasts. A major initiative of this project is to establish a collaborative of seaweed scientists in southern Central America that will promote long-term study of seaweed evolution and biogeography. Over 40 students and scientists (from universities in Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Colombia, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and collaborating American Institutions) will receive training in seaweed identification, molecular systematics and seaweed culturing as part of this research, or through taxonomic workshops. The research will advance an understanding of the distribution and diversity of tropical seaweeds, as well as the biotic history of the Central American Isthmus, and culminate in a series of bi-lingual identification guides to the marine flora of Panama. The Office of International Science and Engineering is co-funding this award to help support US student participation in this international research activity.