REVSYS: Phylogeny and Systematics of the Megachilid Bees

蜂科Megachilidae包括超过3000种（约20%的蜜蜂在世界上），包括许多重要的野生和管理授粉。该科的分类和进化历史知之甚少，对许多类群进行物种水平的鉴定是困难的。该项目将分析整个家族的系统学，分类学，生物学和进化历史，特别强调Anthidiini部落。该研究涉及两个相互关联的项目：（1）使用形态学和分子数据分析该组的进化历史;（2）分析选择的物种属的物种水平分类。这些项目是紧密交织在一起的，因为进化历史为稳定的物种水平分类提供了基础。结果（包括说明互动键，在线数据库，物种级目录）将作为网络访问的数字资源，将是相当大的使用授粉和保护生物学家。通过了解蜂类的行为、花的喜好、筑巢习惯和分布，将加强对作物传粉者的多样化和监测传粉者在自然和农业生态系统中的服务的努力。蜜蜂是自然和农业环境中最重要的传粉者之一。蜜蜂为各种各样的作物提供授粉服务，包括哈密瓜、可可、咖啡、猕猴桃、西番莲、南瓜、西瓜、苹果、桃子和许多其他作物。蜂科Megachilidae包括一些最重要的野生和管理的传粉者，如切叶蜂，石匠蜂和果园蜂。这项研究将大大提高我们的能力，以确定（因此管理）本地传粉以及监测本地传粉种群。这笔赠款将为具有蜜蜂分类学专业知识的新一代蜜蜂研究人员提供培训。该项目将涉及与非洲发展中国家昆虫学家的实质性合作。

The bee family Megachilidae includes over 3000 species (~20% of the bees in the world) including many important wild and managed pollinators. The classification and evolutionary history of this family are poorly understood and species-level identification is difficult for many groups. This project will analyze the systematics, taxonomy, biology and evolutionary history of the entire family with special emphasis on the tribe Anthidiini. The research involves two inter-related projects: (1) analysis of the evolutionary history of the group using morphological and molecular data and (2) analysis of the species-level taxonomy of select, speciose genera. These projects are tightly interwoven because evolutionary history provides the basis for a stable, species-level classification. Results (including illustrated interactive keys, online databases, species-level catalogs) will be made available as web-accessible digital resource that will be of considerable use to pollination and conservation biologists. Efforts to diversify crop pollinators and to monitor pollinator services in natural, as well as agricultural ecosystems, will be strengthened through knowledge of megachilid behavior, floral preferences, nesting habits, and distributions.Bees are among the most important pollinators in both natural and agricultural settings. Bees provide pollination services for an enormous range of crops including cantaloupe, cocoa, coffee, kiwi, passion fruits, squashes, pumpkins, watermelons, apples, peaches and many others. The bee family Megachilidae includes some of the most important wild and managed pollinators, such as leaf-cutter bees, mason bees, and orchard bees. This study will greatly improve our ability to identify (and therefore manage) native pollinators as well as monitor native pollinator populations. The grant will provide training of a new generation of bee researchers with expertise in bee taxonomy. The project will involve substantial collaboration with entomologists in developing African countries.