A grant has been awarded to the Field Museum of Natural History under the direction of Dr. Mark Westneat to study the evolution the diverse community of coral reef fishes and their skeletal structure. Coral reefs are centers of marine biodiversity where millions of species coexist. Reef fishes are a major component of the animal life in these habitats in terms of species number, economic resources, and the colorful, moving beauty of a living reef. The reef fish evolutionary tree, or phylogenetic history, depicting the diversification of these fish over time is largely unresolved. In addition, there is much that we have to learn about the way reef fishes feed, survive and coexist in the complex ecology of coral reefs. This project combines novel DNA information to examine the evolutionary tree of large groups of coral reef fishes with studies of how fish species feed to explore evolution in one of the most diverse species radiations on Earth. The main objective of this grant is to understand the evolution of coral reef biodiversity, and to do that we need DNA data on hundreds of species. By using a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, including genes that play a role in embryological development (for a total of 10 different genes), this project will analyze a total of 648 species of fishes to understand their phylogenetic history and use this family tree to explore evolutionary patterns in reef fishes. The second objective of the proposal is to combine phylogenetic research with engineering features of fish skulls to reveal patterns of evolutionary biomechanics. Engineering models of skull function link the variation in skull anatomy to feeding mechanics such as bite force, gape speed, and jaw protrusion, giving us a better understanding of how animals function in the reef habitat. For a broader audience, this project contributes to museum collections, education, and exhibits. Students at the college, graduate, and postdoctoral levels are involved with all aspects of the proposed research, including sequencing, analysis, and presentation. International collaborations are underway with people from Austria, Australia, Chile, Kenya, Madagascar, New Zealand, The Philippines, and Thailand. A new museum exhibit at the Field Museum highlights the genetic research proposed here. This research will be incorporated into the new Encyclopedia of Life project through initiatives coordinated by the Biodiversity Synthesis Center at the Field Museum in Chicago.
PI Mark W. Westneat This grant funded the research program of the lead investigator plus two postdoctoral researchers, four PhD graduate students, and 5 undergraduate students over a period of 4 years (2008-2012). The general ideas of the research supported by this grant were: (1) explore coral reefs and collect specimens of reef fishes, a primary goal of our work at a major natural history museum, (2) analyze DNA from many species to generate evolutionary trees at the species level and larger trees that cross many families, to understand how reef fishes are related to one another, (3) study the feeding behavior and function of reef fishes, by examining the muscles and bones of the head and developing computer models of how fish jaws work, (4) combine the evolutionary trees with feeding information to create a new understanding of how fish species have evolved on coral reefs, and address why reef fishes are so diverse. Our group published a total of 18 scientific papers during this period, with another 10 projects in manuscript or submission stages. In addition to published scientific papers and research training at many levels, this grant supported the development of several biomechanical software applications, and web outreach products for the general public. Accomplishments: Intellectual Merit Phylogenetics. We generated DNA sequences for 8 genes in over 500 species of coral reef fishes, including all the major families of "perciform" fishes that inhabit coral reefs. We have collected a large set of data on developmental regulatory genes- special genes that help to build the skull early in the developmental stages of fishes. We have published species level papers on several of the families, and are now analyzing data and developing illustrations for a larger study on the overall patterns of relationship among coral reef fish groups. In addition, we have an initial framework for an evolutionary tree of all fishes, created by grafting many trees together. Biomechanics. This project developed biomechanical models for wrasses (Labridae), parrotfishes (Scaridae), triggerfishes (Balistidae), damselfishes (Pomacentridae), and general lower jaw lever models that work in virtually all fishes. Morphometric data sets are now being analyzed to make use of these biomechnaical models and integrate with phylogenetic information. Software Development. New software advances were made in biomechanical modeling under this grant. Our group moved from coding systems that were cumbersome or obsolete (Java, Pascal, MatLab) to current platforms with rapid protyping and custom app design capability (xcode app platform, javascript and R). Prior software and new models are being integrated into a set of friendly user interfaces for researchers and simpler designs for teaching tools. Accomplishments: Broader Impacts WhyReef. 2009-present. Based on our coral reef research, we created WhyReef, an educational gaming module in the free online virtual world, Whyville (www.whyville.net). WhyReef teaches kids aged 8-16 about the diversity and fragility of coral reefs using games to identify and count coral reef species, complete coral reef food webs, and see how reefs can be damaged by perturbations such as coral bleaching or overfishing. WhyReef has received more than 200,000 unique visitors. These visitors have counted more than 5 million organisms during more than 2.5 million visits to the virtual reef. Conservation Connection and Fiji Reef. 2010-2011. We used the research group assembled around this grant, and a MacArthur/HASTAC award to Joshua Drew (postdoc on the grant) to launch the Conservation Connection digital learning program. Conservation Connection engaged 20 teens in Chicago, 20 teens in Suva, Fiji to develop blogs, photo essays, and videos on the social network FijiReef (www.fijireef.ning.com) to address challenges in coral reef ecology and conservation and collaborate to create conservation plans for Fijian reefs. Biomechanics Exhibit Development. I am the lead content coordinator and curatorial consultant for the development of a new traveling museum Exhibition on Biomechanics. Featuring numerous museum specimens and special interactives, this exhibit approaches the biological world through the lens of engineering and robotics, to teach people how organisms are built and function. The Exhibit will open at the Field Museum in 2014, and a second installation will travel throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. Encyclopedia of Life. 2007-present. The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is a system of web pages for all of life. EOL brings together trusted information from resources across the world such as museums, web rsources, scientists, and others into one massive database and a single, easy-to-use online portal (www.eol.org). This grant provided content and images for the EOL. Student projects. Three PhD graduate students and 5 undergraduate students received research training and benefitted from equipment and supplies under this grant funding. Media Development. Science@FMNH videos, video for Biomechanics, extensive media production for EOL and public web outreach uses.
