PBI: Diversity and The Parasitoid Life History Sstrategy - The Superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera)

寄生昆虫，特别是寄生蜂，是对其他昆虫和蜘蛛种群的极其重要的自然控制，包括农业，林业和人类和动物健康中的许多重要害虫。该项目将在全球范围内调查寄生蜂的一个主要类群--扁胃蜂。主要目标是：（1）描述和命名Scelionini的2000多个物种;（2）深入探索世界上鲜为人知的地区，特别是巴西的大西洋森林，东南亚的热带森林，印度的西高止山脉和南非的干旱土地;（3）利用解剖学和DNA序列资料，对扁胃总科的进化历史进行综合分析。一个来自九个国家的跨国集团已经聚集在一起，以实现这些目标，由博士诺曼F。约翰逊（俄亥俄州州立大学）和安德鲁D。奥斯汀（澳大利亚阿德莱德大学）：实现这些目标的战略核心是使用数据库和互联网工具-一种网络基础设施-使世界各地的研究人员能够储存和分析数据、图像和文献;自动将结果传播给最广泛的用户;并在真实的时间内共同工作。这一电子“共同实验室”旨在最大限度地提高这一小组人数有限的专家的效率和生产力。对博士后、研究生和本科生的支持将为年轻科学家提供国际一级生物多样性科学和信息学方面的培训和经验。

Parasitic insects, and particularly parasitic wasps, are extremely important natural controls on the populations of other insects and spiders, including many important pests in agriculture, forestry, and human and animal health. This project will survey, on a global scale, one major group of parasitic wasps, the Platygastroidea. The main goals are to (1) describe and name the more than 2000 species of the Scelionini; (2) intensively explore poorly known areas of the world with rich platygastroid faunas, particularly the Atlantic forest of Brazil, tropical forests of southeast Asia, the Western Ghats of India, and the arid lands of South Africa; and (3) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary history of Platygastroidea, using data from both their anatomy and DNA sequences. A multinational group from nine countries has been brought together to accomplish these goals, led by Dr. Norman F. Johnson (The Ohio State University) and Dr. Andrew D. Austin (University of Adelaide, Australia).Central to the strategy to accomplish these goals is the use of databasing and Internet tools - a cyberinfrastructure - that will allow researchers around the world to store and analyze data, images, and literature; automatically disseminate results to the widest range of users; and work together in real time. This electronic "co-laboratory" is designed to maximize the efficiency and productivity of the limited number of specialists on this group. Support for postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students will provide young scientists with training and experience in biodiversity science and informatics at the international level.