Species-Level Systematics and Phylogeny of Pseudomyrmecine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

沃德大学Deb 9903650。加利福尼亚州这个项目致力于提高我们对蚂蚁(膜翅目：蚁科)的认识和理解，蚂蚁是一类具有重要生态意义的昆虫，具有丰富的行为和生物多样性。该项目的重点是蚂蚁系统学和分类，即新物种的发现和描述，识别检索表的提供，以及物种之间的系统发育关系的阐明。这是通过田野调查、形态研究和分子数据(DNA序列)分析相结合的方式实现的。大多数研究针对的是假蚂蚁属，这是新大陆热带地区一个规模很大、很成功的蚂蚁属。这些蚂蚁物种中的许多都与特殊的热带树木发展了互惠互利的关系：这些植物为蚂蚁提供筑巢地点，作为回报，蚂蚁通过巡逻和刺伤入侵者来保护宿主植物免受食草动物的伤害。一种蚂蚁的刺腺毒液已被证明在治疗类风湿性关节炎方面是有效的。对这些蚂蚁的改进分类将有助于我们了解它们的重要生物学特征。例如，在蚂蚁/植物互惠的领域，我们可以解决这样的问题：蚂蚁多少次进化出与植物密切的联系？是什么因素促成了这种关系的发展？植物保护蚂蚁的特性是什么？这些特性能被用来保护对人类有价值的植物吗？关于这些蚂蚁可能用于治疗医疗疾病，可靠的分类和系统发育学可以更准确地预测哪些物种是调查的目标。最后，经过改进的这些蚂蚁的分类允许它们与鸟类和蝴蝶等其他生物一起被用作提供环境健康信息的“指示性分类群”。其中许多蚂蚁物种只出现在热带雨林中。除非我们能够真正识别和识别单个物种，否则蚂蚁物种多样性的丧失将不会被发现。

DEB 9903650WardUniv. CaliforniaThis project is concerned with improving our knowledge and understanding of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a group of insects that is ecologically important, and rich in behavioral and biological diversity. The focus of this project is on ant systematics and classification, i.e., the discovery and description of new species, the provision of identification keys, and the elucidation of the phylogenetic relationships among species. This is achieved through a combination of fieldwork, morphological study, and analysis of molecular data (DNA sequences). Most of the research is targeted on the ant genus Pseudomyrmex, which is a large and successful group in the New World tropics. Many of these ant species have developed mutually beneficial associations with specialized tropical trees: the plants provide nesting sites for the ants, and in return the ants protect their host plant from herbivores by patrolling the plant and stinging intruders. The sting gland venom of one species, Pseudomyrmex triplarinus, has proved efficacious in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.An improved classification of these ants will help us to understand important features about their biology. For example, in the realm of ant/plant mutualisms, we can address such questions as: How many times have ants evolved close associations with plants? What factors predispose the development of such relationships? What are the special characteristics of plant-protecting ants, and can these qualities be exploited for the protection of plants valuable to man? With respect to the possible use of these ants for treatment of medical ailments, a reliable taxonomy and phylogeny allows more accurate prediction about which species to target for investigation. Finally, an improved taxonomy of these ants permits them to be used, along with other organisms such as birds and butterflies, as "indicator taxa" that provide information about the health of the environment. Many of these ant species occur only in tropical rainforests. Loss of ant species diversity will go undetected unless we can actually identify and recognize the individual species.