DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Fitness landscapes in a recent adaptive radiation of Cyprinodon pupfishes

适应是生物多样性的基础，是物种利用新环境条件的重要机制。这项研究将详细分析导致和限制一组鱼类适应的生态和进化因素。该项目将测量三种密切相关的小鱼及其杂交种的许多形状和大小变化的相对性能，跟踪这些鱼在自然环境中在围栏中的生长和生存。因为这两个物种是近亲，它们可以很容易地杂交，在后代中产生各种各样的形状和大小，这在野外是找不到的。这些杂交后代可以测量这些鱼在自然环境中的完整适应性能。了解自然界表现变化的生态和进化基础，有助于预测诸如哪些环境更容易受到入侵物种的影响，哪些物种更容易成为入侵物种，哪些物种更容易适应环境变化等重大社会问题。该项目包括为本科生提供以研究为基础的培训机会和各种公共宣传。

Adaptation is the basis of biodiversity and is an important mechanism that allows species to exploit novel environmental conditions. This study will generate a detailed analysis of the ecological and evolutionary factors that cause and limit adaptation for a group of fishes. The project will measure the relative performance of many shape and size variants from three closely related species of pupfish and their hybrids, following the growth and survival of these fish in pens in their natural environment. Because the species are closely related, they can be readily hybridized to generate a wide variety of shapes and sizes in their offspring that are not found in the wild. These hybrid offspring allow measuring the complete adaptive performance profile for these fish in their natural environment. Understanding of the ecological and evolutionary basis of variation in performance in nature supports prediction of such significant societal issues as which environments are more vulnerable to invasive species, which species are more likely to become invasive, and which species are likely to readily accommodate to environmental changes. The project includes research-based training opportunities for undergraduates and diverse public outreach.