PECASE: Development and Evolution of Exaggerated Morphologies in Insects: An Integrated Study of Beetles with Horns

0092873道格拉斯·埃姆伦这个项目需要一个为期五年的研究和教育计划。研究的重点是动物极端形状的发展和进化。金龟属(鞘翅目：金龟科)的金龟属甲虫经常长出特别的角，就像麋鹿或驼鹿的扩大的鹿角一样。甲虫的角通常是由雄性产生的，并被用于争夺雌性生殖机会的激烈竞争中。在这里，基于对这些动物近十年的先前研究，PI将整合发育、遗传学、进化和行为的方法，以揭示甲虫角多样性进化的潜在机制，并研究角生产的功能成本如何限制它们的进化。这项研究计划旨在为有动机的本科生在科学过程的各个层面(设计和实施实验、分析、写作和传播结果)提供有意义的研究经验。PI将在这个研究项目以及蒙大拿大学的其他研究项目的基础上设计一门关于进化的课程，以便立即和有形的研究项目为传达生物学的主要概念提供工具。这种以研究和概念为基础的进化论教学方法还将要求学生在当地高中生物教室实习，这是蒙大拿大学生物系和整个社区之间现有外展计划的一部分。

0092873 Douglas EmlenThis project entails a five-year program of research and education. Research focuses on the development and evolution of extreme shapes in animals. Dung beetles of the genus Onthophagus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) often produce extraordinary horns not unlike the enlarged antlers of elk or moose. Horns in beetles generally are produced by males, and are used in aggressive contests over reproductive access to females. Here, building on almost ten years of prior research with these animals, the PI will integrate approaches of development, genetics, evolution, and behavior to eludidate mechanisms underlying the evolution of diversity in horns of beetles and to examine how functional costs of horn production may constrain their evolution. This research program is designed to provide meaningful research experiences for motivated undergraduates at all levels of the scientific process (design and implementation of experiments, analysis, writing, and dissemination of results). The PI will design a course on evolution that builds on this research program, as well as others at the University of Montana, so that immediate and tangible research projects provide vehicles for conveying major concepts in biology. This research- and concept-based approach to teaching evolution will also entail student internships in local high school biology classrooms, as part of an existing outreach program between the biology department at the University of Montana and the community at large.