Molecular Systematics and the Evolution of Host Plant Associations and Diapause Shifts in the Apameini (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

分子系统学、寄主植物关联的进化和 Apameini 的滞育转变（鳞翅目：夜蛾科）

• 批准号: 0530889
• 负责人: Paul Goldstein
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2008-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0530889&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Systematics; Evolution; Host; Plant

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Paul Z. Goldstein of the Field Museum ofNatural History to study the relationships among species in the Apameini, a tribe of North American and European noctuids or owlet moths, and the evolution of their associations with different plants. Using DNA sequence data this project aims to resolve relationships among apameine species and test ideas surrounding the evolution of host plant associations and caterpillar behaviors in the tribe. A particular focus is on the unique habit of internal feeding (endophagy) that characterizes the so-called borers, and the extent to which this and related behaviors may mediate the breadth of host plants attacked by apameine caterpillars.With over 45,000 described species and untold numbers of undiscovered forms, noctuid moths make up the most diverse family among all the butterflies and moths, and nearly a third of the order Lepidoptera. Noctuids are important components of terrestrial ecosystems: They include primary prey items for birds, bats, and other vertebrates; economically important agricultural pests; and important objects of scientific exploration. Noctuid caterpillars have also evolved to feed upon a tremendous variety of plants and fungi, and have evolved a variety of novel behaviors that enabled them to specialize on different hosts. Unfortunately, relationships among the major groups of noctuids are poorly known, and it is not yet possible to explore the evolution of feeding behaviors, including the behavior of pest species. The group of moths that makes up the focus of this project appears to be a lynchpin for understanding the relationships among major noctuid groups. Because they are related to a variety of important agricultural pests, understanding the origins of feeding modes in this group bears on our understanding of how pests and outbreak species arise. Moreover, their associations with numerous grasses makes them relevant to our understanding of grass-dominated ecosystems.

菲尔德自然历史博物馆的保罗·Z·戈尔茨坦博士获得了一笔赠款，用于研究北美和欧洲的夜蛾或小猫蛾部落阿帕梅尼的物种之间的关系，以及它们与不同植物的关系的演变。利用DNA序列数据，这个项目旨在解决无性生殖物种之间的关系，并测试围绕寄主植物协会和毛虫在部落中行为的进化的想法。特别关注的是以内部取食(内食性)为特征的独特的内部取食习惯，以及这种行为和相关行为可能在多大程度上调节被无虫毛虫攻击的寄主植物的广度。夜蛾有超过4.5万个已描述的物种和数量不计其数的未被发现的形式，是所有蝴蝶和飞蛾中最多样化的一科，也是鳞翅目的近三分之一。夜蛾是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分：它们包括鸟类、蝙蝠和其他脊椎动物的主要猎物；经济上重要的农业害虫；以及重要的科学探索对象。夜蛾类毛虫也进化成以各种各样的植物和真菌为食，并进化出各种新奇的行为，使它们能够专门针对不同的宿主。不幸的是，夜蛾主要类群之间的关系鲜为人知，目前还不可能探索取食行为的进化，包括害虫物种的行为。组成这一项目重点的蛾类群似乎是了解主要夜蛾类群之间关系的关键。由于它们与多种重要的农业害虫有关，了解这一类群的取食方式的起源关系到我们对害虫和暴发物种如何产生的理解。此外，它们与众多草本植物的联系使它们与我们对以草为主的生态系统的理解相关。