DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Tempo and Mode of Diversification in Megophryid Frogs

进化生物学的一个重大挑战在于解释为什么有些群体比其他群体更多样化。本研究调查的因素，产生物种丰富度和多样性的形式（这两个因素之间的关系）内的一个主要群体的青蛙，亚洲蟾（家庭）。这个家庭是非常多样化的，无论是在物种数量和大小，形状和生态变化方面。 研究人员将使用DNA序列和化石信息构建物种关系的进化树，然后他们将使用该树来测试关于多样化进化速率的假设。地理分布数据的增加提供了一个机会，以测试是否历史上重要的地质事件也影响了生物多样性的变化。这项工作将提供关键的洞察多样化事件的时间和机制，导致我们今天观察到的物种多样性。它将推进我们对动物形态在物种多样化方面的作用的认识，并将为适应性辐射提供重要的新见解，这是一种普遍生物学感兴趣的现象。 推广活动将包括培训学生掌握现代实验室技术，并在华盛顿农村地区举办几个公共教育项目，包括关于进化的讲习班和青蛙生物多样性的博物馆展览。

A significant challenge in evolutionary biology lies in explaining why some groups are more diverse than others. This research investigates factors that produce species richness and diversity of forms (and the relationship between these two factors) within a major group of frogs, the Asian Toadfrogs (family Megophryidae). This family is exceptionally diverse, both in terms of number of species and variation in size, shape, and ecology. The investigators will use DNA sequences and information from fossils to construct an evolutionary tree of species relationships, which they will then use to test hypotheses about evolutionary rates of diversification. The addition of geographical distribution data affords the opportunity to test whether historically important geological events also affected changes in biodiversity.This work will provide key insight into the timing of diversification events and the mechanisms that led to the species diversity we observe today. It will advance our knowledge of the role that animal form has with regard to species diversification and will provide important new insights into adaptive radiation, a phenomenon of general biological interest. Outreach will include training students in modern laboratory techniques and convening several public education programs in rural Washington, including workshops on evolution and museum displays of frog biodiversity.