DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolutionary Relationships of Lizardfishes and their Allies (Euteleostei: Aulopiformes) and the Evolution of Deep Sea Adaptations

阐明深海蜥蜴、鱼类及其同族（拟真骨目：拟形目）的系统发育关系和特征进化是本研究的目的。蜥形鱼类包括一些最奇怪的深海鱼类，该群体的成员表现出惊人的多样化的进化适应。目前还没有利用分子数据的强有力的拟音形动物系统发育，并且先前的形态学研究导致了对拟音形动物进化关系的相互矛盾的解释。本研究将在分子和形态数据分析的基础上建立一个健全的系统发育框架，并利用该框架来追踪深海环境适应的进化（例如，伸缩眼、生物发光、同时雌雄同体）。这项研究将促进对深海进化适应的发现和认识，包括同时雌雄同体的生殖策略——脊椎动物中最罕见的生殖策略之一。该奖项将提供形态学和分子系统发育技术方面的研究生培训，以及系统方法论方面的本科生培训。从这项研究中获得的数据将被编入在线数据库，包括与Euteleost生命之树项目相关的数据库。

Elucidating the phylogenetic relationships and character evolution of deep-sea lizardfishes and their allies (Euteleostei: Aulopiformes) are the goals of this study. Aulopiform fishes include some of the most bizarre deep-sea fishes, with members of the group exhibiting spectacularly diverse evolutionary adaptations. Currently there are no robust phylogenies of the Aulopiformes that utilize molecular data, and previous morphological studies of the group have resulted in conflicting interpretations of aulopiform evolutionary relationships. This study will produce a robust phylogenetic framework based on molecular and morphological data analsyes, and use this framework to trace the evolution of adaptations to deep-sea environments (e.g., telescopic eyes, bioluminescence, simultaneous hermaphroditism).This study will advance the discovery and knowledge of deep-sea evolutionary adaptations, including the reproductive strategy of simultaneous hermaphroditism -- one of the rarest reproductive strategies among vertebrates. This award will provide graduate training in morphological and molecular phylogenetic techniques, and provide undergraduate training in systematic methodology. Data obtained from this study will be cataloged in online databases, including those associated with the Euteleost Tree of Life project.