Systematics and Ecology of Social Insects

蚁属包括500多种蚂蚁，集中在新大陆的热带地区。这一属的蚁群在某些栖息地非常丰富，它们是大多数热带陆地环境的共同组成部分。该属的物种表现出一系列令人印象深刻的生态习性，包括捕食白蚁、与植物共生、在树上筑巢、模仿白蚁和其他蚂蚁。不幸的是，由于缺乏对其分类学和多样性的深入了解，对这一多样性属的生态学和行为学研究受到了阻碍。超过一半的新世界物种从未被正式描述和命名，也没有全面的分类和鉴定指南。E. O. Wilson博士打算完成他对这个群体的长期研究，最终完成一部分类学专著、图解的鉴定密钥和种级分类。在哥斯达黎加、巴西和秘鲁的实地工作将为这项研究增加有价值的新藏品，史密森尼的BIOLAT昆虫库存项目也将如此。这项研究将为热带生物学开辟多种研究机会。生态学家和行为生物学家将使用提出的识别键和分类来增加他们研究的精确性和严谨性。今后对热带生物多样性的调查将利用这项研究作为评估生物多样性变化的基线。拟议中的项目将在蚂蚁系统学家的行列之外找到广泛的受众。

The genus Pheidole includes more than 500 species of ants, concentrated in the tropics of the New World. Ant colonies of this genus can be very abundant in certain habitats, and they are common constituents of most tropical terrestrial settings. Species of the genus display an impressive range of ecological habits, including termite predation, symbiosis on plants, arboreal nest-building, and mimicry on termites and other ants. Unfortunately, ecological and behavioral research on this diverse genus is hampered by the lack of a solid understanding of its taxonomy and diversity. More than half of the New World species have never been described formally and named, and there is no comprehensive guide to their classification and identification. Dr. E. O. Wilson proposes to complete his long-term study of the group, culminating in a taxonomic monograph, illustrated identification key, and species-level classification. Field work in Costa Rica, Brazil, and Peru will add valuable new collections to the study, as will the Smithsonian's BIOLAT insect inventory project. The proposed study will open a variety of research opportunities in tropical biology. Ecologists and behavioral biologists will use the proposed identification keys and classification to add precision and rigor to their studies. Future surveys of tropical diversity will use this study as a baseline for assessing changes in diversity. The proposed project will find a wide audience beyond the ranks of ant systematists.