DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics, phylogenetics and the evolution of asexuality in the fungus-gardening ant genus Mycocepurus

植菌蚁的系统分类学、系统发育和无性繁殖的进化。植菌蚁通过未受精卵进行生殖。严格的无性繁殖使史密斯密蝽在昆虫中几乎是独一无二的。研究m.s smithii有助于我们理解为什么性行为在动物中如此普遍，而无性行为为何如此罕见。拟议中的研究将在进化背景下测试强制性和长期无性行为的理论预测。首先，该属的现代分类学修订将识别现有物种并描述新物种。其次，通过分子系统发育分析，推断出m.s smithii从有性向无性的进化过渡，并鉴定出m.s smithii的有性姊妹种。第三，将测试m.s smithii是否存在（或不存在）指示强制性、长期无性行为的基因特征。在进化生物学中，大多数动物有性生殖的存在是一个长期存在的难题。如果无性生物能够在进化过程中持续存在，它们可能已经进化出了一种不同的解决方案，以确保两种性别在性行为中获得同样的好处。拟议的研究将通过与拉丁美洲科学家的合作促进信息和技术的交流。几名本科生研究助理将接受分子遗传技术方面的培训。科学进步将在公共推广计划和科学会议上展示。此外，分类学和系统发育研讨会将在巴西克拉罗的合作研究所举行。

SYSTEMATICS, PHYLOGENETICS AND THE EVOLUTION OF ASEXUALITY INTHE FUNGUS-GARDENING ANT GENUS MYCOCEPURUSThe fungus-gardening ant Mycocepurus smithii reproduces exclusively via unfertilized eggs. Strict asexual reproduction makes M. smithii almost unique among insects. Studying M. smithii contributes to our understanding of why sexuality is so common among animals, and why asexuality is rare. The proposed research will test theoretical predictions of obligate and long-term asexuality in an evolutionary context. First, a modern taxonomic revision of the genus will identify existing species and describe new species. Second, a molecular phylogenetic analysis will infer the evolutionary transition from sexuality to asexuality and identify the sexual sister species of M. smithii. Third, M. smithii will be tested for the presence (or absence) of genetic signatures indicative of obligate, long-term asexuality. The presence of sexual reproduction among most animals is a longstanding puzzle in evolutionary biology. If asexual organisms are able to persist over evolutionary time, they may have evolved a different solution insuring the same benefits of sexuality with two sexes. The proposed research will foster the exchange of information and technology through collaboration with scientists in Latin America. Several undergraduate research assistants will be trained in molecular genetic techniques. Scientific progress will be presented in public outreach programs and scientific meetings. In addition, a taxonomy & phylogeny workshop will be held at the partner Institute in Rio Claro, Brazil.