CAREER: Sensory Innovation and The Ecological Diversification of Snakes

该奖项全部或部分由《2021年美国救援计划法案》（公法117-2）资助。在进化过程中，一些动物群体在主要栖息地之间的迁徙中取得了惊人的成功，而另一些群体则只在单一的栖息地中多样化。然而，这些转变的原因仍然知之甚少，特别是当动物使用新的策略时，这些策略与它们的解剖结构似乎合乎逻辑的预期不同。通过使用新的3D技术对自然历史藏品中保存标本的骨骼和感官系统进行无损可视化，该项目将创建一个统一的框架，以了解不同解剖特征的相对重要性，从而促进向新栖息地的转移。当有机系统以一种不仅仅是各部分简单相加的方式协同工作时，这些见解尤为重要。然后，该项目使用以学生为中心的大使模式（“项目：MORPH!”）将研究成果转化为面向公众和各级学生的三维生物多样性教育资源和体验。这些组成部分通过外展计划和底特律大都会区自然历史博物馆的展览扩大了科学参与，促进了1)创新3D技术的体验式学习机会，2)社区科学家在提供基础生物多样性数据方面的作用（“标本的故事”）。此外，这项工作还提供了“大数据”分析和科学传播方面的高级培训，为未来从事生物多样性科学研究的不同背景的早期职业科学家做好准备。总而言之，该项目提供了对标志性脊椎动物群体主要栖息地成功入侵的驱动因素的有力见解，并利用新兴技术全面整合21世纪的生物多样性研究和教学。该项目使用系统发育比较方法来测试感官系统如何相互整合，以及营养和骨骼创新，以促进蛇的生态多样化。利用非侵入性计算机断层扫描（CT）对博物馆标本中的软组织进行扫描，该项目测试了一组假设，这些假设涉及至少60种独立入侵的地下、树木和水生栖息地。这些测试对于理解进化趋同背后的过程尤为重要。此外，感官进化的测试将从根本上推进经典的运动和营养特征是如何在主要脊椎动物辐射的生态多样化背景下进行的。此外，教育部分提供以评估为导向的数字标本使用，这将为自然历史藏品的使用提供创新的教学见解，特别是为未来的远程或非正式学习机会。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。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2). Some groups of animals have been spectacularly successful at moving among major habitats during their evolution, while other groups have diversified only within single habitats. However, the causes of these transitions remain poorly known, especially when animals use novel strategies that do not follow expectations that seem logical from their anatomy. By using new 3D technology to nondestructively visualize the bones and sensory systems of preserved specimens in natural history collections, this project will create a unified framework for understanding the relative importance of different anatomical traits that facilitate shifts to new habitats. These insights are especially important when organismal systems work together in a way that is more than the simple sum of their parts. The project then uses a student-centered ambassador model (“Project: MORPH!”) to leverage research products into 3D biodiversity education resources and experiences for the public and students at all levels. These components broaden participation in science through outreach programs and exhibits in a natural history museum that serves the Detroit metropolitan area, facilitating 1) experiential learning opportunities with innovative 3D technology and 2) the role of community scientists in providing foundational biodiversity data (“Story of the Specimen”). Additionally, this work provides advanced training in “big data” analysis and science communication to prepare early-career scientists from diverse backgrounds for future research in biodiversity science. Together, this project provides powerful insight into the drivers of successful invasion of major habitats across an iconic group of vertebrates and leverages emerging technologies towards comprehensive integration of biodiversity research and teaching in the 21st century. This project uses phylogenetic comparative methods to test how sensory systems have integrated with each other, and with trophic and skeletal innovation, to facilitate ecological diversification in snakes. Using non-invasive computed tomography (CT) scanning of soft tissue in museum specimens, this project tests a set of hypotheses for diversification across at least 60 independent invasions of subterranean, arboreal, and aquatic habitats. These tests are particularly important for understanding the processes underlying evolutionary convergence. Furthermore, tests of sensory evolution will fundamentally advance how classic locomotor and trophic traits are contextualized across ecological diversification in a major vertebrate radiation. Additionally, the educational components offer assessment-driven use of digital specimens that will provide innovative pedagogical insights about and uses of natural history collections, especially for future remote or informal learning opportunities.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.