Title       : The Geography of Mitochondrial DNA and Protein Evolution in
              North American Birds
Type        : Award
NSF Org     : DEB
Latest
Amendment
Date        : March 16,  1993
File        : a9396152

Award Number: 9396152
Award Instr.: Standard Grant
Prgm Manager: Penny Firth
              DEB  DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
              BIO  DIRECT FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Start Date  : March 16,  1993
Expires     : June 30,  1993
Expected
Total Amt.  : $4,000
Investigator: Robert M Zink
Sponsor     : U of Minnesota-Twin Cities
              1100 Washington Avenue South
              Minneapolis, MN  554151226                  612/625-5000

NSF Program : 1127     SYSTEMATICS & POPULATION BIOLO
Fld Science : 61       Life Science Biological
Fld Applictn: 0000099  Other Applications NEC
Abstract    :
          Geographic variation refers to the widespread phenomenon of
     variation within the range of species.  Understanding the origin
     and maintenance of such variation is a primary goal of attempts
     to understand the evolutionary process itself.  This project is
     designed to clarify evolutionary processes that shape the
     geography of intraspecific genetic variation in three
     codistributed species of birds, namely, the Fox, Song, and
     Chipping sparrows.  In morphology, these species exhibit both
     marked geographic differentiation (Fox and Song sparrows) and
     phenotypic uniformity (Chipping sparrow) in their continent-wide
     distributions.  In samples of birds taken throughout the range of
     each species, genetic differentiation in mitochondrial DNA
     (mtDNA) and a series of genes that encode soluble proteins,
     called allozymes will be measured.  Such descriptive data on
     genetic variation within species provide a foundation for
     understanding the origin and evolutionary significance of
     geographic variation, and its relationship to the process of
     adaptation and speciation.  Examination of genetic data is
     crucial because evolution ultimately occurs at this level in
     populations.  By examining genetic variation in samples of these
     three species, it will be possible to determine if geographic
     distance alone or "vicariant" events in earth history (such as
     the formation of mountain ranges) play a primary role in
     geographic differentiation, the initial step in evolutionary
     divergence.  No studies of avian genetic variation within and
     among codistributed species have been conducted on the
     geographic, continent-wide scale of the proposed study.  This
     study will provide the most detailed information on avian
     population genetic structure yet  available, for both proteins
     and at the level of the genetic code itself, (mt)DNA.  The use of
     three species that occur over the same range increases the
     statistical power of interpreting patterns of variation.  The
     results will offer significant insight into the evolutionary
     process in general as well as the birds under study.