U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: Systematics and Biogeography of Indo-Australian Ants

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This award will allow collaborative studies between Dr. Philip S. Ward of the University of California, Davis and Dr. Robert W. Taylor of the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, Australia on the systematic relationships of Indo-Australian ants. The principle objectives of the research are (1) to clarify the species-level systematics of several important groups of Indo-Australian ants, (2) to gather data which will facilitate the analysis of phylogenetic relationships among these ants, and (3) to utilize information on ant phylogeny and distribution to test biogeographic hypotheses about the Australian continent. Field collections will be made in Australia and Melanesia. Specimens will be analyzed using a combination of conventional morphological examination, morphometric analysis, and scanning electron microscope studies of microsculpture. Taxonomic assessments will be aided by a taxonomic database management system and computer-assisted programs for phylogenetic inference. Results from this research will provide much-needed taxonomic revisions of several ant groups and will yield insight into the history of the Australian biota. Dr. Ward has broad knowledge of the ant groups to be studied as well as a background in current biochemical and analytical procedures. Dr. Taylor has more than 20 years of experience on the Australian ant fauna in general, as well as access to important collections and computer programs and equipment necessary for analytical evaluation and processing.