One of the greatest challenges in biology is to explain the levels and patterns of species diversity. Hybrid zones, where closely related species co-occur and hybridize, provide an ideal setting in which to study the processes that generate and maintain species diversity. This research will combine field observations, controlled laboratory experiments and modern molecular tools to address fundamental questions regarding the distributional patterns observed among three topminnow species in the Fundulus notatus species complex. Throughout the Midwestern and Southern United States, the species encounter one another in numerous hybrid zones, making them an ideal group for study.
The proposed research will comprehensively address the evolutionary history of the F. notatus species group and will increase our understanding of the role evolutionary and ecological processes play in producing and maintaining the species diversity we observe today. Moreover, this research has important conservation implications and will be of interest to various state agencies. The research program will integrate teaching and research by involving undergraduate and graduate students in the research enterprise at the two diverse universities. Personnel active in the research will participate in existing outreach programs aimed at recruiting underrepresented groups into the sciences and improving science literacy in pre-collegiate students.
One of the greatest challenges in biology is to explain the levels and patterns of species diversity. Hybrid zones, where closely related species co-occur and hybridize, provide an ideal setting in which to study the processes that generate and maintain species diversity. This research has combined field observations, controlled laboratory experiments and modern molecular tools to address fundamental questions regarding the distributional patterns observed among topminnow species in a group known scientifically as the Fundulus notatus species complex. Throughout the Midwestern and Southern United States, the closely related species in this group encounter one another in numerous hybrid zones, making them an ideal group for our studies. Our research has elucidated the evolutionary history of the group of topminnow species and increased our understanding of the role evolutionary and ecological processes play in producing and maintaining the species diversity we observe today. Some of our conclusions have addressed the impact of anthropogenic (human) activity on habitat quality, and topminnow interactions with their environment and aquatic communities. This research has important conservation implications as we have identified, characterized and cataloged samples of several topminnow populations that warrant recognition as distinct species with geographically narrow ranges. Our sampling efforts have enhanced the fish collection at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) which is one of the largest such collections in the southeastern United States (often referred to as a piscine rainforest due to the high levels of fish diversity). This research program has involved a highly interactive collaboration between the students and faculty of two public universities in Mississippi (USM) and Illinois (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), respectively. The research program has integrated teaching and research by involving undergraduate and graduate students in the research enterprise. Many of these students have been extensively involved in the research, working towards their doctorate, completing their Master’s theses, and senior research projects with resources provided by NSF. The research experience these students have gained has positioned them well for entrance into the work force as well as continuation of their training in biology. Three USM undergraduates that worked on the project went on graduate school with one recently completing his Doctorate at Clemson University. Three USM graduate students completed MS theses on the project and have continued on in Doctoral programs. Two undergraduate students utilized the skills they learned to enter the workforce upon graduation as fisheries technicians. Other students have experienced undergraduate lab courses enhanced by materials made available through this project. Overall, this project has directly impacted seventeen USM students (3 Doctoral, 4 Master’s level, 10 undergraduate).
