Collaborative Research: Systematic and ecological studies of North American Najas L. (Hydrocharitaceae)

合作研究：北美 Najas L.（Hydrocharitaceae）的系统和生态研究

• 批准号: 0841745
• 负责人: Sallie Sheldon
• 金额: $ 8.92万
• 依托单位: Middlebury College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-03-15 至 2014-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841745&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Systematic; ecological; studies

Lakes and ponds in the U.S. often contain submerged flowering plants in the genus Najas. Some species of Najas are native to North America, whereas others are invaders from Europe that take over the ponds that they colonize. The plants are nondescript, with tiny flowers; they often appear different when they are grown in different environments, and some species tend to form hybrids. Because of this, they are hard to identify. It is often difficult for land managers to determine whether the plants in a particular pond are the noxious invaders, endangered native species, or hybrids of the two. This project will use DNA sequencing, examination of chromosomes, and advanced statistical approaches to produce identification tools for land managers. In addition, the data will help scientists understand how these aquatic plants have evolved. The project represents a unique partnership between an ecologist at a primarily undergraduate institution (Middlebury College) and an evolutionary biologist at a doctoral research institution (University of Connecticut). Undergraduate students will acquire strong interdisciplinary training in ecology and evolutionary biology, and will be involved in both field investigations and laboratory work.

在美国，湖泊和池塘经常在纳哈斯属中含有淹没的开花植物。 一些纳哈斯物种原产于北美，而另一些是欧洲的入侵者，它接管了它们定居的池塘。 植物是不描述的，有微小的花。当它们在不同的环境中生长时，它们通常会出现不同，并且某些物种倾向于形成杂种。 因此，他们很难识别。 土地管理者通常很难确定特定池塘中的植物是有害的入侵者，濒危的本地物种还是两者的杂种。 该项目将使用DNA测序，检查染色体和先进的统计方法来为土地管理者生产识别工具。 此外，数据将有助于科学家了解这些水生植物如何发展。该项目代表了主要是本科机构（米德尔伯里学院）的生态学家与博士研究机构（康涅狄格大学）的进化生物学家之间的独特伙伴关系。 本科生将获得强大的生态和进化生物学跨学科培训，并将参与现场调查和实验室工作。