NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY2008

本行动资助2008年度NSF少数民族博士后研究奖学金。该奖学金支持奖学金获得者在主办实验室的研究和培训计划，该奖学金获得者还提出了一项计划，通过创新的外展来扩大对生物学的参与。Jessica L. Ware奖学金的研究和培训计划的标题是“理解低等白蚁（等目：Hodotermitidae）的社会性和共生的进化：一种分子和形态学方法”。这项研究的主办机构是美国自然历史博物馆，赞助科学家是David Grimaldi博士。白蚁（来自科学分类目等翅目）是一种独特的群居昆虫，与居住在其后肠中的消化纤维素的微生物存在复杂的共生关系。需要对基础白蚁关系进行深入的系统发育分析，以了解这些等翅类特征、社会行为和肠道共生的进化。本研究利用全球范围内的低等白蚁物种样本和现存化石数据，建立了首个全证据的等翅目系统发育假说。系统发育重建正在利用分子和形态数据进行恢复。分化估计分析、生物地理分析和祖先状态重建被用于评估这些迷人生物进化的生态条件。本研究的训练目标包括学习化石形态学技术和AMNH使用的系统计算机程序。更广泛的影响将揭示“低级”白蚁的系统学和复杂共生关系的进化。将通过非正式的科学教育和无线电广播鼓励代表性不足的群体扩大参与。

This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2008. The fellowship supports a research and training plan in a host laboratory for the Fellow who also presents a plan to broaden participation in biology through innovative outreach. The title of the research and training plan for this fellowship to Jessica L. Ware is "Understanding the evolution of sociality and symbiosis in the lower termites (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae): a molecular and morphological approach" The host institution for this research is the American Museum of Natural History and the sponsoring scientist is Dr. David Grimaldi.Termites (from the scientific classification order Isoptera) are unique social insects that are involved in a complex symbiosis with cellulose-digesting microorganisms residing in their hindguts. A thorough phylogenetic analysis of basal termite relationships is needed to understand the evolution of these isopteran features, social behavior and gut-symbiosis. This research is creating the first total-evidence phylogenetic hypothesis of Isoptera with a global sample of lower termite species and extant fossil data. Phylogenetic reconstructions are being recovered using both molecular and morphological data. Divergence estimation analyses, biogeographical analyses and ancestral-state reconstruction are being used to evaluate the ecological conditions under which these fascinating organisms evolved. The training objectives of this research include learning fossil morphology techniques and a systematics computer program used at AMNH. The broader impacts will shed light on the systematics of "lower" termites and evolution of complex symbiosis. Broadening participation of under-represented groups will be encouraged through informal science education and radio broadcasts.