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

DEB 9903650 warduniv。该项目旨在提高我们对蚂蚁（膜翅目：蚁科）的认识和理解，蚂蚁是一种具有重要生态学意义的昆虫，具有丰富的行为和生物多样性。该项目的重点是蚂蚁的系统学和分类，即发现和描述新物种，提供鉴定密钥，阐明物种之间的系统发育关系。这是通过实地考察、形态学研究和分子数据（DNA序列）分析相结合来实现的。大部分的研究都是针对伪蚁属，这是一个在新世界热带地区成功的大型蚁群。这些蚂蚁中的许多物种与特定的热带树木发展了互利的关系：植物为蚂蚁提供筑巢地点，作为回报，蚂蚁通过巡视植物和刺痛入侵者来保护它们的宿主植物免受食草动物的侵害。刺腺毒液的一种，假三叶蛇，已被证明有效的治疗类风湿性关节炎。对这些蚂蚁进行更好的分类将有助于我们了解它们生物学的重要特征。例如，在蚂蚁/植物共生的领域，我们可以解决这样的问题：蚂蚁进化多少次与植物密切联系？是什么因素导致了这种关系的发展？保护植物的蚂蚁有什么特点，这些特点是否可以被利用来保护对人类有价值的植物？至于这些蚂蚁可能用于治疗医学疾病，可靠的分类和系统发育可以更准确地预测哪些物种是研究的目标。最后，对这些蚂蚁进行了改进的分类，使它们能够与其他生物（如鸟类和蝴蝶）一起被用作“指示分类群”，提供有关环境健康的信息。许多蚂蚁只存在于热带雨林中。蚂蚁物种多样性的丧失将无法被发现，除非我们能够真正识别和识别单个物种。

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.