Dissertation Research: The role of history in adaptation to novel environments: the relationship between morphology, performance, and phylogenetic history in frogs

进化生物学中一个未解决的问题是，过去的适应在多大程度上影响了物种对新环境的适应。例如，过去对祖先微生境（如树木）的适应是否限制了对新微生境类型（如水）的适应？或者对新的微栖息地的适应是否完全抹去了以前进化史上的任何痕迹？这个问题将通过测量青蛙的表现（例如，跳跃，游泳），身体形式（例如，大小，形状）和栖息地利用来解决，然后通过了解物种之间的进化关系来估计青蛙进化史中的变化。数据已经在中国和哥伦比亚收集，这笔资助将把采样扩展到澳大利亚，并允许在美国的博物馆进一步开展工作。这项研究将使人们了解历史影响（例如，以前的栖息地使用和适应）对随后的进化变化的影响，这是以前没有得到很好理解的。此外，该项目将培养进化生物学研究方面的本科生，并与澳大利亚科学家开展国际合作，并通过在美国和澳大利亚的外展演讲发展跨文化理解。

An unresolved question in evolutionary biology is the extent to which past adaptations influence adaptations of species to a new environment. For example, does past adaptation to an ancestral microhabitat (e.g., trees) constrain adaptation to a novel microhabitat type (e.g., water)? Or does adaptation to a new microhabitat completely erase any traces of previous evolutionary history? This question will be addressed in frogs of the world through measuring performance (e.g., jumping, swimming), body form (e.g., size, shape), and habitat use, and then estimating change during the evolutionary history of frogs via an understanding of evolutionary relationships among species. Data have been collected within China and Colombia, and this grant will extend the sampling to Australia, as well as allowing further work at museums in the U.S. This research will lead to an understanding of the influence of historical influences (e.g., previous habitat use and adaptations to it) on subsequent evolutionary change, something that has not previously been well understood. Furthermore, this project will result in the training of undergraduate students in research in evolutionary biology, as well as develop international collaboration with scientists from Australia and develop cross-cultural understanding through outreach presentations, both in the U.S. and Australia.