Comparative phylogeography of Neotropical birds with cross-Andes distributions

为什么热带地区的生物多样性如此丰富？这一谜团的一部分可以在鸟类的分布模式中找到。在南美洲，许多低地鸟类的活动范围由河流和大山脉划定。例如，在尼格罗河东岸的一位观鸟者可能会观察到白喉巨嘴鸟，但如果他们穿越到西岸，他们会发现卡维尔的巨嘴鸟。从安第斯山脉以西的低地雨林穿越到安第斯山脉以东的低地雨林时，也注意到了类似的物种更替。这些分布模式表明，河流和山脉的形成可能在隔离鸟类种群和推动热带地区进化多样化方面发挥了关键作用。这项研究将分析125种热带鸟类的遗传数据，以研究河流和山脉如何影响物种的形成和多样性。这项合作项目的一个重要组成部分是为发展中国家的科学家提供研究培训。随着计划在巴西、哥伦比亚和委内瑞拉进行实验室和实地考察，来自北美和南美的科学家将接触到多样化的自然环境和技术。这些合作将使人们更多地了解热带多样性是如何产生和维持的，以及如何保护生境以最大限度地增加多样性。

Why is biological diversity so rich in the tropics? One piece of this puzzle may be found in patterns of bird distributions. In South America, the ranges of many lowland bird species are delimited by rivers and large mountain chains. For example, a birdwatcher on the east bank of the Negro River may observe the White-throated Toucan but, if they crossed to the west bank, they would instead find Cuvier's Toucan. A similar species turnover is noticed when crossing from the lowland rainforests west of the Andes to those east of the Andes. These distribution patterns suggest that the formation of rivers and mountains may have played pivotal roles in isolating populations of birds and driving evolutionary diversification in the tropics. This research will analyze genetic data from 125 tropical bird species to examine how rivers and mountains affected species formation and diversity.A vital component of this collaborative project is the research training it will provide to scientists in developing countries. With labwork and fieldwork planned in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, scientists from North and South America will be exposed to a diversity of natural environments and techniques. The collaborations will result in increased knowledge of how tropical diversity arises and is maintained, and how habitats should be preserved to maximize diversity.