REVSYS: Phylogeny and Systematics of the Megachilid Bees

大蜂科包括3000多种（约占世界蜜蜂总数的20%），包括许多重要的野生和人工授粉昆虫。该科的分类和进化历史尚不清楚，许多类群难以在物种水平上进行鉴定。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，特别强调蚁群。该研究包括两个相互关联的项目：(1)利用形态学和分子数据分析类群的进化史；(2)对选择的种属进行种级分类分析。这些项目紧密地交织在一起，因为进化史为稳定的、物种水平的分类提供了基础。研究结果（包括有插图的交互式密钥、在线数据库、物种级目录）将作为可访问网络的数字资源提供给传粉和保护生物学家，这将对他们有相当大的用处。通过了解巨蝇的行为、花的偏好、筑巢习性和分布，将加强努力，使作物传粉媒介多样化，并监测自然和农业生态系统中的传粉媒介服务。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、南瓜、西瓜、苹果、桃子和许多其他作物。大蜂科包括一些最重要的野生和人工传粉者，如切叶蜂、石匠蜂和果园蜂。这项研究将极大地提高我们识别（并因此管理）本地传粉媒介以及监测本地传粉媒介种群的能力。这笔拨款将用于培训具有蜜蜂分类学专业知识的新一代蜜蜂研究人员。该项目将涉及与非洲发展中国家的昆虫学家进行大量合作。

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.