Collaborative Research: A Global Framework for the Phylogeny of Gelechioid Moths, a Megadiverse Radiation of Herbivores.

约翰·W·温泽尔和理查德·L·布朗，合作研究：一个研究石斑蛾系统发育的全球框架，这是一种极其多样化的食草动物。18.3万美元的飞蛾和蝴蝶(鳞翅目)代表着昆虫多样性的巨大爆炸之一。在鳞翅目的主要谱系中，叶蝉总科是最成功的辐射之一，无论在数量上还是生态上都是如此。幼虫在大多数陆地生境中都是重要的，并具有极大的多样性的食性，但关于蝗虫总科分支之间进化关系的深刻不确定性使其不可能拼凑出生态特征进化和寄主植物选择的可支持的情景。到目前为止，大多数专家必然专注于全球的几个分类群或当地的许多分类群，产生的是知识的拼凑，而不是全面的综合。一些作者侧重于某些特征而不是替代，一些作者强调成虫的特征，另一些作者则强调未成熟昆虫。我们将使用几种方法来对组成该群体的37个主要谱系进行排序，并定义它们之间的关系。首先，我们将在现有的形态矩阵的基础上，添加以前在鳞翅目中没有使用过的新的形态特征，以提供一个代表所有主要石斑虫谱系的大约150到175个物种的大矩阵。样本被选择来代表长期识别的谱系中的变异。其次，我们将提供几个基因的DNA序列数据，以充实系统发育分析的形态矩阵。我们还将启动一个档案低温收集，包括大约150个物种，或尽可能多的物种，包括那些具有特别有趣的宿主植物的物种。第三，将制作基于网络的识别钥匙和照片档案，以提供关于分类群和特征以及寄主信息的基本知识，并将DNA数据与生物信息交叉参考。最后，将根据系统发育框架解释适应性辐射、寄主选择和取食综合征的进化，扩展我们在这方面的早期成功。整个项目的大部分费用分别是学生工资、私人投资以外人员的旅费以及DNA实验室工作的材料和用品。

John W. Wenzel and Richard L. Brown, Collaborative Research: A global framework for the phylogeny of the gelechioid moths, a megadiverse radiation of herbivores. $183,000 Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) represent one of the great explosions of insect diversity. Among major lineages of Lepidoptera, Gelechioidea is one of the most successful radiations, both numerically and ecologically. Larvae are important in most terrestrial habitats and have a great diversity of feeding habits, but deep uncertainty regarding the evolutionary relationships among branches of the Gelechioidea makes it impossible to piece together supportable scenarios of ecological character evolution and host-plant selection. To date, most specialists have necessarily focused on a few taxa globally or many taxa locally, producing a patchwork of knowledge rather than a comprehensive synthesis. Some authors place emphasis on certain characters rather than alternatives, some on features of the adults insects, others on immatures. We will use several approaches in order to sort the 37 major lineages that compose the group and define their relationships to each other. First, we will build upon existing morphological matrices, adding new morphological characters not previously used in Lepidoptera to provide a grand matrix for about 150 to 175 species representing all major gelechioid lineages. The exemplars are chosen to represent variation in long-recognized lineages. Second, we will provide DNA sequence data from several genes to augment the morphological matrix for phylogenetic analysis. We will also initiate an archival cryogenic collection including about 150 species, or as many species as possible, including those with particularly interesting host plants. Third, web-based identification keys and photo archives will be produced to make available the primary knowledge regarding taxa and characters as well as host information, and to cross reference DNA data with biological information. Finally, adaptive radiation and evolution of host choice and feeding syndromes will be interpreted in light of the phylogenetic framework, expanding on our earlier success in this regard. The bulk of the expenses of the total project are in student salaries, travel for personnel other than the PIs, and materials and supplies for the DNA laboratory work, respectively.