Phylogenetic Relationships of the Lacewings (Insecta:Neuroptera)

昆虫是地球上最具多样性和物种丰富的生物群体之一。其中最大的昆虫辐射是Holometabola，或经历变态的昆虫，包括熟悉的昆虫，如蝴蝶，甲虫，苍蝇和草蛉。草蛉与甲虫关系密切，被认为是全变态动物中最原始的类群之一。草蛉代表了各种各样的奇怪和独特的生活史，但它们彼此之间的进化关系以及这些独特生活史的发展却知之甚少。我们正在研究的历史关系的17个家庭组的草蛉使用DNA序列数据从多个基因，以及详细的调查形态特征。这两个信息来源将使用分支系统学方法进行分析，以建立进化关系的系统发育树或“家谱”。从分子和形态数据分析中提出的系统发育树将形成草蛉类自然分类的模板。这棵树将进一步被用来测试不同情景下各种生活史发展的假设，包括草蛉的第一祖先是水生还是陆生起源。这项研究的结果可以用来进一步了解昆虫的进化过程。本项目探索的分子和形态特征系统和基因将有助于解决其他昆虫中相似年龄的辐射，特别是全变态亲属，如Megaloptera（dobsonflies），Raphidioptera（snakeflies）和Coleoptera（beetles）。该项目还将为博士后科学家和本科生的教育和职业发展提供机会，并促进科学家之间的跨机构合作。

Insects represent one of the most diverse and species-rich groups of organisms inhabiting the earth. One of the largest radiations of insects is the Holometabola, or insects that undergo metamorphosis, and includes familiar insects such as butterflies, beetles, flies, and lacewings. Closely related to beetles, lacewings are considered one of the most primitive groups of Holometabola. Lacewings represent a wide diversity of strange and unique life histories, but their evolutionary relationships to each other and the development of these unique life histories are poorly understood. We are examining the historical relationships of the 17 family-groups of lacewings using DNA sequence data from multiple genes, as well as detailed investigations of morphological characteristics. These two sources of information will be analysed using cladistic methodology to develop a phylogenetic or 'family tree' of evolutionary relationships.The phylogenetic tree proposed from the analysis of both molecular and morphological data will then form the template for developing a natural classification of the groups of lacewings. This tree will further be used to test hypotheses of development of various life histories under different scenarios, including whether the first ancestors of lacewings were aquatic or terrestrial in origin. The results of this research can be used to further our understanding of the processes of insect evolution. Molecular and morphological character systems and genes explored in this project will be useful in resolving similar-aged radiations in other insects, especially for holometabolan relatives such as Megaloptera (dobsonflies), Raphidioptera (snakeflies) and Coleoptera (beetles). This project will also provide opportunities for education and career development of a postdoctoral scientist and undergraduate students, as well as foster cross-instituional collaborations between scientists.