PEET: Monographic Research of Tropical Bark Beetles (Curculionidae:Scolytinae): Taxonomic Expertise

这项研究通过学徒制和对热带树皮甲虫生物多样性的系统研究，保留了树皮甲虫生物学家的分类专业知识，并使其现代化。一般来说，树皮甲虫在生态上是木材的分解者。然而，一些物种会杀死活的树木，特别是在环境压力时期。这些害虫造成严重的经济和生态损失，通常相当于数百万美元。此外，在港口截获的外来昆虫中，树皮甲虫占大多数，那些逃脱检测的甲虫极大地影响了森林经济和生态。许多被截获的物种是文昌甲虫(Xyleborini)，这是一个研究较少但多样化的泛热带类群，约有1,200种。它们类似克隆的交配系统和相关的真菌增加了它们作为外来害虫的潜力。然而，由于缺乏分类学知识，研究和/或控制这一群体的努力受到阻碍。不幸的是，描述、分类和编目文心虫生物多样性的需要与世界范围内树皮甲虫分类学家的衰落不谋而合。因此，本研究提供了新一代树皮甲虫的分类学家、属修订、检索表和东南亚甲虫的专著。两名博士生的直接培训将在合作的氛围中进行，利用现有的专业知识。培训包括田野和博物馆方法、计算机数据库、物种分类，包括视频辅助形态分析和当代系统发育分析。分类学研究包括两个经济上重要的热带Xyleborini属。这一专题信息与从世界各地博物馆和最近的实地收藏品获得的其他数据一起被格式化为一个可在网上评估和搜索的数据库。构建了这些物种的检索表和北美奇异的仙人掌甲虫。该项目的完成将有助于更好地了解和组织热带树皮甲虫，并有助于保存和发展急需的分类学专门知识。现代化的专著和检索表将允许快速识别潜在的外来有害生物。及早发现害虫最终将为美国木材生产商节省数百万美元，并保护美国森林的生态完整性。此外，增加对仙人掌甲虫生物多样性的了解无疑将有助于国际上对热带森林的保护。对新的树皮甲虫系统学家的教育确保了对这些具有重要经济意义的甲虫的持续研究，并确保不断减少的分类学知识被保存给后代。

This study preserves and modernizes the taxonomic expertise of bark beetle biologists through apprenticeships and the systematic study of tropical bark beetle biodiversity. In general, bark beetles function ecologically as decomposers of wood. However, some species kill live trees, especially during periods of environmental stress. These pests cause severe economic and ecological losses, which often equate to millions of dollars. In addition, bark beetles comprise the majority of exotic insects intercepted at ports and those beetles that have escaped detection have greatly impacted forest economics and ecology. Many intercepted species are ambrosia beetles (Xyleborini), a poorly studied but diverse pantropical group with approximately 1,200 species. Their clone-like mating system and associated fungus increase their potential as exotic pests. However, efforts to study and/or control this group are hampered by a lack of taxonomic knowledge. This need to describe, classify and catalog ambrosia beetle biodiversity unfortunately coincides with a worldwide decline in bark beetle taxonomists. Thus this study provides a new generation of bark beetles taxonomists, generic revisions, keys, and monographs for Southeast Asian beetles. Direct training of two Ph.D. students will proceeds in a collaborative atmosphere using current expertise. Training includes field and museum methods, computer databasing, species-level taxonomy, including video-aided morphological analysis and contemporary phylogenetic analysis. Taxonomic studies include two economically important tropical Xyleborini genera. This monographic information along with other data obtained from worldwide museums and recent field collections is formatted as a web-assessable and searchable database. Keys to these species and exotic ambrosia beetle of North America are constructed. Completion of this project will result in a better understanding of and organization of tropical bark beetles and in the preservation and growth of much-needed taxonomic expertise. The modernized monographs and keys will allow for speedy identification of potential exotic pests. Early detection of pests will ultimately save US lumber producers millions of dollars and protect the ecological integrity of US forests. Also, increased understanding ambrosia beetle biodiversity will undoubtedly aid international conservation of tropical forests. The education of new bark beetle systematists ensures continued study of these economically important beetles and that waning taxonomic knowledge is preserved for future generations.