DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Interrelationships of Alepocephaliformes and Evolution of the Light-Organ System in Platytroctidae

生物发光在深海鱼类中普遍存在，这种现象被认为对交配行为、物种识别、猎物吸引和捕食者躲避至关重要。尽管具有广泛的生物学意义，但迄今为止还没有研究直接测试生物发光系统的进化是否与进化速度的增加相一致。这个研究项目将集中在一个理想的模型系统来比较发光和非发光物种的进化速度。利用DNA序列数据和形态特征（包括光器官系统的解剖结构）的结合，重建了光鱼目生物发光鱼类的进化关系。由此产生的一组关系将用于测试生物发光和非发光物种之间进化速率的变化。该项目将为鱼类复杂的光器官系统的进化和多样化，以及更广泛地说，塑造深海鱼类生物多样性的力量提供新的见解。深海及其居民的“异域本性”为吸引公众对生物学的兴趣提供了一个极好的系统。调查结果将通过公众宣传和教育项目进行传播。

Bioluminescence, a phenomenon hypothesized as vital in mating behavior, species recognition, prey attraction, and predator avoidance, is pervasive in deep sea fishes. Despite broad biological significance, no study to date has directly tested whether the evolution of bioluminescent systems is concordant with increased rates of evolution. This research project will focus on an ideal model system for comparing rates of evolution in luminescent versus non-luminescent species. The evolutionary relationships of bioluminescent fishes in the Order Alepocephaliformes will be reconstructed using a combination of DNA sequence data and morphological features, including anatomy of the light-organ system. The resulting set of relationships will be used to test for changes in evolutionary rate between the bioluminescent and non-luminescent species. This project will provide new insights into the evolution and diversification of the complex light-organ system in fishes, and more broadly, the forces shaping deep-sea fish biodiversity. The "alien nature" of the deep sea and its inhabitants provides an excellent system for engaging public interest in biology. Results will be disseminated via public outreach and education programs.