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

PECASE：昆虫夸张形态的发展和进化：有角甲虫的综合研究

• 批准号: 0092873
• 负责人: Douglas Emlen
• 金额: $ 65万
• 依托单位: University of Montana
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-07-01 至 2007-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0092873&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PECASE; Development; Evolution; Exaggerated; Morphologies

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.

[00:92873]道格拉斯·埃姆伦这个项目包括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。食蚁兽属的屎壳郎（鞘翅目：金龟子科）经常长出异乎寻常的角，就像麋鹿或驼鹿的大角一样。甲虫的角通常由雄性长出来，用于争夺雌性的繁殖机会。在此，基于对这些动物近十年的研究，PI将整合发展，遗传学，进化和行为的方法，以阐明甲虫角多样性进化的机制，并检查角生产的功能成本如何限制它们的进化。本研究计划旨在为在科学过程的各个层面（实验的设计和实施、分析、写作和结果的传播）中有动力的本科生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，以便即时和切实的研究项目为传达生物学中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也将要求学生在当地高中的生物教室实习，作为蒙大拿大学生物系和整个社区之间现有推广计划的一部分。