New insights from new molecular data: dispersal, hybridization and speciation

我的研究旨在了解自然种群的进化模式和产生它们的过程。在接下来的五年里，我将重点研究发生在种群和物种边界上的三个过程。1)性别偏向分散。在一夫多妻制的交配系统中，雄性可能比雌性分散得更多，而在一夫一妻制的交配系统中，雌性可能分散得更多。这些一般规则主要来自哺乳动物和鸟类（温血动物，亲代照顾广泛），可能不适用于大多数动物物种（冷血动物，亲代照顾较少）。我们将使用新发展的种群遗传学方法间接研究蜥蜴的扩散模式，从而检验旧的并可能产生新的广泛适用的理论。2)萌芽物种形成。物种形成产生新物种，“萌芽物种形成”的概念挑战了常用的物种划分“单系标准”。以广泛分布的无尾蝇为模型系统，我们将测试出芽物种形成的发生频率和潜在的隔离机制。随着经验数据的积累，我们还将建立一个萌芽物种形成的模型。3)历史性的种间杂交和核基因组与线粒体基因组的解耦。一些种间杂交可能导致一个物种的线粒体基因组被另一个物种取代，而核基因组保持完整。这样的替换可能会破坏两个基因组之间的共同适应。利用蛋白质结构模型，我们将研究这种细胞-核解耦的后果。

My research aims to understand evolutionary patterns and the processes that produce them in natural populations. In the next five years, I will focus on three processes that occur at the boundary between population and species. 1) Sex-biased dispersal. Males likely disperse more than females do in a polygyny mating system while females likely disperse more in a monogamy system. These general rules were primarily derived from mammals and birds (warm-blooded with extensive parental care) and may not be applicable to the majority animal species (cold blooded with minor parental care). We will use newly developed population genetic methods indirectly examine lizard dispersal patterns, and thus test the old and likely generate new widely applicable theories. 2) Budding speciation. Speciation produces new species and the concept "budding speciation" challenges the commonly used "monophyly criterion" in species delineation. Using widespread anuran species as model systems, we will test the occurrence frequency of budding speciation and potential isolation machnisms. With the accumulation of empirical data, we will also establish a model for budding speciation. 3) Historical inter-specific hybridization and the uncoupling of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Some inter-specific hybridization may result in the mitochondrial genome of one species being replaced by another while the nuclear genome remains intact. Such replacements may break down the co-adaptation between the two genomes. Using protein structure modeling, we will examine the consequence of such cyto-nuclear uncoupling.