COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: GLOBAL SURVEY AND INVENTORY OF SOLIFUGAE

合作研究：Solifugae 的全球调查和清查Paula E. Cushing 和 Lorenzo Prendini co-PIsSolifugae 是蜘蛛纲动物中科、属和种数量最多的第六目，但它们的进化关系和多样性在很大程度上尚不清楚。新物种不断被发现。该项目的目标是： 1）在溶落物多样性最丰富的四个地区进行实地考察，以发现新物种，记录其分布，并收集用于形态学、解剖学、行为和遗传学研究的新鲜材料； 2）重建进化关系，修正目的高级分类； 3）建立国际合作并为目前隔离工作的溶菌专家提供资源； 4）培训新的专家； 5）通过科学出版物、研讨会和互联网向公众传播有关固体的知识。 Solifugae是除南极洲、澳大利亚、马达加斯加和新西兰以外的所有主要陆地干旱生态系统中的主要昆虫捕食者，并且是这些栖息地中脊椎动物的重要猎物。它们是沙漠环境的指标，它们的消失标志着栖息地的退化。任何详细研究的物种似乎都具有特定的栖息地和范围限制，加剧了它们因人类活动而灭绝的风险，但它们却没有得到正式的保护。许多物种可能在被描述之前就消失了。该项目计划的活动，包括培训新的分类学专家，将加强科学基础设施，并将大大提高我们对这些鲜为人知的蜘蛛纲动物的了解。

Collaborative Research: Global Survey and Inventory of SolifugaePaula E. Cushing & Lorenzo Prendini co-PIsSolifugae are the sixth most diverse order of arachnids in number of families, genera, and species, yet their evolutionary relationships and diversity are largely unknown. New species continue to be discovered. The objectives of this project are: 1) to conduct fieldwork in four regions of greatest solifuge diversity to discover new species, document their distributions, and gather fresh material for morphological, anatomical, behavioral, and genetic studies; 2) reconstruct the evolutionary relationships and revise the higher classification of the order; 3) establish international collaborations and provide resources for solifuge specialists currently working in isolation; 4) train new specialists; and 5) disseminate knowledge about solifuges to the public through scientific publications, seminars, and the internet. Solifugae are the dominant insect predators in arid ecosystems on all major terrestrial landmasses except Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, and New Zealand, and form important prey for vertebrates in such habitats. They are indicators for desert environments, their disappearance signaling habitat degradation. Those studied in any detail appear to be habitat-specific and range-restricted, exacerbating their risk of extinction due to human activities, yet they receive no formal protection. Many species may disappear before being described. The activities planned in this project, including training of new taxonomic specialists, will enhance scientific infrastructure and will vastly improve our understanding of these poorly known arachnids.