Collaborative Research: Species delimitation, speciation, and evolution of the niche in slimy salamanders (Plethodontidae: Plethodon)

这项研究将研究DNA序列变异的地理模式，以界定北美东部蝾螈（Plethodon damagosus组）的一个广泛分布的组中的物种。这些蝾螈通常是森林栖息地中数量最多的脊椎动物，在生态系统功能中发挥着关键作用。然而，由于它们在外观和生态学上的整体相似性，确定该组中的物种数量一直存在问题。研究人员将使用一种新的遗传，生理和小气候数据的组合来发现物种，并探索在物种谱系的起源和维持中，生态位的停滞和分歧所扮演的角色。了解生态位在产生和维持物种边界中所扮演的角色，将推进我们对物种如何应对气候快速变化的认识。解决不确定性周围的物种水平分类的Plethodon damagiosus组将有立即保护的影响，在迅速发展的地区，美国东南部。此外，拟议的研究将提供培训，在进化，生态学和保护生物学的博士后学生，两名研究生，和几个本科生研究人员。

This research will examine geographic patterns of variation in DNA sequences to delimit species in a widespread group of eastern North American salamanders (the Plethodon glutinosus group). These salamanders are often the most abundant vertebrates in forested habitats and play a key role in ecosystem functioning. However, due to their overall similarity in appearance and ecology, identifying the number of species in the group has been problematic. The investigators will use a novel combination of genetic, physiological, and microclimatic data to discover species, and to explore the roles that stasis and divergence in the ecological niche play in the origin and maintenance of species lineages.Understanding the role that the ecological niche plays in generating and maintaining species boundaries will advance our knowledge of how species will respond to rapid changes in climate. Resolving uncertainty surrounding the species-level taxonomy of the Plethodon glutinosus group will have immediate conservation implications in rapidly developing regions of the southeastern United States. In addition, the proposed research will provide training in evolution, ecology, and conservation biology for a postdoctoral student, two graduate students, and several undergraduate researchers.