CAREER: Testing the contributions of selection, gene-flow, and recombination to reinforcement

了解生物多样性的产生包括弄清楚物种形成的方式和原因。物种形成涉及到在不同物种之间建立繁殖障碍。这种积累可能是自然选择和基因流动等进化力量相互作用的结果。这项研究调查了一组三种本土德克萨斯州夹竹桃野花的进化力量。以这三个物种为重点，研究将确定生殖隔离是如何以及为什么进化的。在整个德克萨斯州，这些种类的野花可以在种群和杂交中一起生长。这项研究包括一个详细的调查，是什么驱使性状的进化，以减少一对物种之间的杂交，并阻止这些性状在另一对物种中进化。这项研究将生态学研究与遗传学和基因组学研究结合起来。通过这样做，它将检验长期存在的关于物种如何以及为什么形成的假设。这个项目整合了本科生的课程研究经验。这一经历将使学生能够亲身学习物种形成并学习科学方法。通过与当地自然历史博物馆合作，该项目将吸引K-12年级的学生和教师参与以植物进化为基础的活动。本项目研究选择、基因流动和重组如何促进共生物种之间生殖隔离的进化。drummondii夹竹桃与两个密切相关的夹竹桃物种共生，但已进化为仅与这两个物种中的一个繁殖隔离。为了确定为什么繁殖隔离在一个物种而不是另一个物种中进化，这个项目将测量杂交的成本。此外，该研究将测量现有繁殖障碍的强度以及物种之间基因流动的数量和方向。该项目将传粉者吸引的实地研究与控制交配和杂交成功的温室研究结合起来。此外，它将包括详细的基因组研究，以调查生殖隔离的遗传结构和物种之间的基因流动。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Understanding the generation of biodiversity involves figuring out how and why speciation occurs. Speciation involves the buildup of barriers to reproduction between diverging species. This buildup can result from the interplay of evolutionary forces such as natural selection and gene flow. This research investigates these evolutionary forces in a group of three native Texas Phlox wildflowers. Focusing on these three species, the research will determine how and why reproductive isolation evolves. Across Texas, these species of wildflowers can be found growing together in populations and hybridizing. This research involves a detailed investigation of what drives the evolution of traits to decrease hybridization between one pair of species and prevents the evolution of these traits in another pair. This research combines ecological studies with genetic and genomic studies. By doing so, it will test long standing hypotheses about how and why species form. This project integrates undergraduate students in a course-based research experience. This experience will allow students to study speciation hands-on and learn about the scientific method. By working with the local natural history museum, this project will engage K-12 grade students and teachers in plant evolution-based activities.This project investigates how selection, gene flow, and recombination contribute to the evolution of reproductive isolation between co-occurring species. Phlox drummondii co-occurs with two closely related Phlox species but has evolved increased reproductive isolation with only one of these two species. To determine why reproductive isolation evolves with one species and not the other this project will measure the cost of hybridization. Further, the research will measure the strength of existing barriers to reproduction and the amount and direction of gene flow between species. This project integrates field-based studies of pollinator attraction with greenhouse studies of controlled matings and hybrid success. In addition, it will include detailed genomic studies to investigate the genetic architecture of reproductive isolation and gene flow between species.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.