REVSYS: Reconstructing Heroini (Teleostei:Cichlidae) - Of Heroes, Convicts, Angels and Red Devils

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。大约100种雌鱼因其富有魅力的行为、戏剧性的色彩模式和快速多样化的非凡历史而为生物学家所熟知。然而，人们对导致这种显著差异的模式和过程知之甚少。这个项目将利用DNA序列和形态分析的数据来调查这些鱼的系统发育和生物地理历史。由于这些鱼是古老的，仅限于淡水，它们可以帮助解决过去6500万年来构成中美洲陆桥的地质区块是如何形成和移动的。这项研究将有助于我们更好地了解北热带地区的地质历史，并保护发现这些鱼类的脆弱淡水栖息地。该项目将包括对美国和几个拉丁美洲国家的高中、大学、研究生和博士后水平的学生进行培训。该项目还将帮助建立与新热带脆弱的淡水生态系统以及栖息地丧失和引入非本地鱼类的影响有关的当地养护工作。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The roughly 100 species of heroine cichlid fishes are well known among biologists for their charismatic behaviors, dramatic color patterns, and remarkable history of rapid diversification. Yet, little is known about the patterns and process that resulted in this notable diversity. This project will investigate the phylogenetic and biogeographic history of these fishes using data from DNA sequences and morphological analyses. Because these fishes are ancient and restricted to freshwater, they can help resolve how the geological blocks that now make up the Central American landbridge formed and moved over the last 65 million years. This research will help us better understand the geological history of the northern Neotropics and to protect the fragile freshwater habitats where these fishes are found. This project will included training of students at the high school, college, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in the U.S., and in several Latin American countries. The project will also help establish local conservation efforts related to the fragile freshwater ecosystems of the Neotropics and to the effects of habitat loss and the introduction of non-native fishes.