PEET: Monography, Phylogentics, and Developing Expertise in New World Pleurostict Scarab Beetles

甲虫科圣甲虫科大约有27,800种。胸鳞圣甲虫在科中形成一个分支，包括Melolonthinae亚科、Rutelinae亚科、Dynastinae亚科、cetoniae亚科、Euchirinae和phaenomeridae。这个分支约占金龟子科的75%（或69%）。在分类学上对胸鳞圣甲虫知之甚少，在新大陆只有大约50%的属可以可靠地确定为属。此外，目前对胸鳞圣甲虫的分类是基于上个世纪的分类结构，没有反映分类群之间的关系。这个项目，由Brett Ratcliffe和他的同事，将导致所有部落的系统发育分析，以提供一个稳定的胸膜科圣甲虫分类。这种基于系统发育的分类将为理解群体的起源、特征进化以及物种概念和物种形成模式的含义提供科学背景。新的分类将成为新世界320属的分类钥匙的基础，该分类钥匙将以印刷和电子形式出版。此外，四个鲜为人知的、单系的新大陆胸膜圣甲虫类群将被专著：Gymnetini（羽衣圣甲虫科）、Pelidnota及其相关属、trizogenates和Platycoelia（所有羽衣圣甲虫科）。本研究将建立标本级信息、字符数据、地理和时间分布、目录和图像的电子数据库。除关键文件外，还将以电子和印刷形式出版这四个小组的专著。该研究将有助于发展用于组织和获取有关圣甲虫知识的计算机基础设施，并为今后的圣甲虫系统学工作奠定基础。为了实现这些目标，PI和博士后助理将培养两名博士水平的学生，他们将精通现代专著，分类学和系统发育方法以及信息的电子传播。

9712447 RATCLIFFE The beetle family Scarabaeidae has approximately 27,800 species. The pleurostict scarabs form a clade within the family and include the subfamilies Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae, Euchirinae, and Phaenomeridinae. The clade constitutes about 75% of the family (or 69% of the Scarabaeoidea). The pleurostict scarabs remain poorly known taxonomically, and only about 50% of the genera in the New World can be identified to genus with reliability. Moreover, the current classification of the pleurostict scarabs is based on taxonomic constructs from the last century that do not reflect relationships of taxa. This project, by Brett Ratcliffe and coworkers, will result in phylogenetic analyses of all tribes of the pleurostict clade in order to provide a stable classification of the pleurostict scarabs. This phylogeny-based classification will provide the scientific context for understanding origins of groups, character trait evolution, and implications for species concepts and modes of speciation. The new classification will form the foundation for a taxonomic key to the 320 genera of New World pleurosticts that will be produced in both print and electronic format. In addition, four poorly known, monophyletic groups of New World pleurostict scarabs will be monographed: Gymnetini (Cetoniinae), Pelidnota and related genera, Trizogeniates, and Platycoelia (all Rutelinae). This research will create electronic databases of specimen-level information, character data, geographic and temporal distributions, catalogs, and images. Monographs of the four groups, in addition to the key, will be produced in electronic and print formats. The research will contribute to the development of computer infrastructure for organizing and accessing knowledge about scarab beetles, and it will establish the foundation for future work in scarab systematics. To accomplish all of these goals, the PI and post-doctoral associate will train two Ph.D.-level students who will becom e proficient in modern monographic, taxonomic, and phylogenetic methods and electronic dissemination of information.