Hybridization, polyploidy and the evolution of parthenogenesis in the Australian desert

这个项目考虑了澳大利亚动物的生态和进化，这些动物通过孤雌生殖繁殖，即无性繁殖。长期以来，这些动物一直让进化生物学家着迷，因为它们提供了关于性别在进化中的作用的线索。澳大利亚沙漠是孤雌生殖的热点地区，为研究有利于丧失性行为的生态和进化力量提供了独特的机会。我们的研究将利用澳大利亚的孤雌生殖案例，了解与向孤雌生殖过渡相关的基因变化如何影响生态成功。这将大大扩展我们对性别在进化中的作用以及澳大利亚干旱地带进化史的理解。

This project considers the ecology and evolution of Australian animals that reproduce by parthenogenesis, i.e. without sex. These animals have long fascinated evolutionary biologists for the clues they provide about the role of sex in evolution. The Australian desert is a hot-spot for parthenogenesis, providing a unique opportunity to study the ecological and evolutionary forces favouring the loss of sex. Our research will exploit Australian cases of parthenogenesis to understand how genetic changes associated with the transition to parthenogenesis affect ecological success. This will significantly extend our understanding of both the role of sex in evolution, and of the evolutionary history of the Australian arid zone.