Evolutionary Ecology of a Cave Dwelling Poeciliid Fish: The Roles of Darkness and Toxic Sulfur.

极端的栖息地需要特殊的适应。 种群的大西洋molly（Poecilia mexicana）已经独立殖民两个洞穴塔巴斯科（墨西哥）港口有毒水平的硫化氢和黑暗的条件。 洞穴生物对黑暗环境的适应，如色素沉着和眼睛减少，是众所周知的。然而，动物如何适应高水平的硫化氢还没有得到很好的理解。 这项研究的目的是研究生活在黑暗，硫化氢沃茨在洞穴中发现的极端栖息地，以及在经历正常的环境光照水平的无毒环境中的密切相关的莫莉种群的生活史进化。该研究考察了健身反应的环境条件下，在现场和常见的花园实验中，环境条件被操纵。 通过采用功能方法来检查一组密切相关的类群在不同条件下的生活史特征的反应，该研究可以为了解生物如何适应极端环境做出重要贡献，包括在富含硫化氢的水生环境中发现的相当新颖的条件。该项目在墨西哥最贫困的地区之一进行，将与几位国际同事合作进行，包括来自墨西哥一所小型大学的研究人员，Oxolatan的跨文化大学。Oxolatan校区主要为代表性不足的土著人民服务。该项目将为跨文化大学的当地学生提供实地研究培训，并为该校园的学生和教师提供访问俄克拉荷马州大学进行培训和文化交流的机会。此外，来自俄克拉荷马州大学的本科生和研究生将接受培训，作为该项目的一部分，包括国际研究机会。 作为该项目的一部分，还将利用公开讲座和海报开展外联活动，教育当地民众。这项研究的结果将有助于保护Cueva del Azufre作为当地Zoque部落的全球独特栖息地和文化象征。

Extreme habitats require special adaptations. Populations of the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana) have independently colonized two caves in Tabasco (Mexico) that harbor toxic levels of hydrogen-sulfide and dark conditions. Adaptations to dark environments, such as reduced pigmentation and eyes, are well known among cave organisms. However, how animals adapt to high levels of hydrogen-sulfide are not well understood. This research is designed to study life history evolution among closely-related molly populations that are found in extreme habitats of dark, hydrogen-sulfide waters found in caves, as well as in non-toxic environments that experience normal ambient light levels. The research examines fitness responses to environmental conditions in the field and in common garden experiments where environmental conditions are manipulated. By taking a functional approach to examine response of life history traits among a suite of closely-related taxa under different conditions, the research can make important contributions to understanding how organisms adapt to extreme environments, including the rather novel conditions found in hydrogen-sulfide rich aquatic environments.The project, which takes place in one of the poorest areas of Mexico, will be conducted in collaboration with several international colleagues including researchers from a small, Mexican university, the Universidad Intercultural in Oxolatan. The Oxolatan campus primarily serves underrepresented indigenous people. This project will provide field research training to local students from the Universidad Intercultural and provide opportunities for students and faculty from that campus to visit the University of Oklahoma for training and cultural exchange. In addition, undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Oklahoma will receive training as part of this project, including international research opportunities. Outreach to educate the local population using public talks and posters will also occur as part of this project. Results from this research will help protect the Cueva del Azufre as a globally unique habitat and cultural icon for the local Zoque tribe.