DISSERTATION RESEARCH: A genomic approach to understanding allopatric differentiation in tropical montane birds

新物种(物种形成)的形成通常被认为是从种群的地理隔离开始的。当一个物种的不同种群被地理屏障隔绝时，它们很可能进化出差异。如果在孤立的情况下积累的差异很大，这些种群将被视为不同的物种。然而，控制物种形成的初始阶段--地理上孤立的种群的分化--的过程却知之甚少。这一建议调查了在地理孤立的情况下控制种群分化的因素。特别是，它考察了在地理隔离中花费的时间，以及随着时间的推移所经历的地理隔离程度，在决定种群分化水平方面所起的作用。这项提议使用安第斯山脉云雾森林中发现的鸟类物种作为假设检验的模型系统，因为该地区的许多种群显示出跨越地理障碍的不同程度的分化。最近发展起来的遗传技术将被用来推断遗传分化的水平，安第斯山脉鸟类的博物馆标本将使测量种群之间的羽毛和形态分化成为可能。了解地理上孤立的物种产生不同程度差异的原因将有助于阐明地球上大部分地区物种形成的初始阶段所涉及的过程-S生物多样性。该项目包括对秘鲁科学家的培训，以及对芝加哥地区当地高中生和本科生的实验室方法的指导。该项目还将在芝加哥菲尔德博物馆的DNA发现中心进行关于遗传和进化研究的公共教育推广。

The formation of new species (speciation) is generally thought to begin with geographic isolation of populations. When different populations of a single species are isolated by geographic barriers, they are likely to evolve differences. If the differences accrued in isolation are substantial, these populations will be considered different species. However, the processes that control the initial stage of speciation, the differentiation of geographically isolated populations, are poorly understood. This proposal investigates the factors that control differentiation of populations in geographic isolation. In particular, it examines the roles that time spent in geographic isolation, and the degree of geographic isolation experienced through time, play in determining levels of population differentiation. This proposal uses bird species found in the cloud forest of the Andes as a model system for hypothesis testing, as many populations in this region show variable levels of differentiation across geographic barriers. Recently developed genetic techniques will be used to infer levels of genetic differentiation, and museum specimens of Andean birds will enable measurement of differentiation in plumage and morphology among populations.Understanding the causes of different amounts of divergence from geographically isolated species will help illuminate the processes involved in the initial phase of speciation for a large portion of earth?s biodiversity. This project includes training of Peruvian scientists and mentorship of local Chicago area high school students and undergraduates in laboratory methods. This project also will involve public educational outreach on genetic and evolutionary research at the DNA Discovery Center at the Field Museum in Chicago.