Phylogeny of Apidae (Hymenoptera) with an emphasis on the evolution and antiquity of eusociality

蜜蜂科包括近6000种描述的物种（约占世界蜜蜂的35%），包括各种各样的社会形式，包括独居和公共兰花蜜蜂（Euglossini），独立的真社会熊蜂（Bombini），高级真社会蜜蜂（Apini）和无刺蜜蜂（Meliponini）。要了解蜜蜂社会行为的进化史，需要在部落和属的层次上进行遗传学研究。然而，目前对这一群体的遗传学缺乏明确的认识，因为不同的数据集提供了高度相互矛盾的结果。形态学数据和化石记录似乎表明，先进的eusociality的单一起源（生殖分工，世代重叠，合作照顾年轻人），而多个分子研究支持先进的eusociality的双重起源。该项目将结合联合收割机的形态学数据，化石记录，以及新的454生命科学测序技术产生的大分子数据集，以解决以前的研究所获得的相互矛盾的结果。这项研究将允许重新评估形态学数据，并重新检查多米尼加，波罗的海和北美琥珀矿床的apid化石。化石数据和DNA序列数据的结合将允许应用松弛时钟测年方法来估计蜜蜂的古老性和真社会的古老性。该项目将导致修订的家庭分类和更好地了解蜜蜂的进化史。蜜蜂是自然界生物多样性的重要组成部分，对人类农业系统的授粉至关重要。 这些社会性昆虫在世界面临的生物多样性挑战中处于危险之中，该项目将培训更多所需的科学家，以了解风险的程度以及这些挑战的潜在解决方案。 该项目将包括传统上代表性不足的群体的研究，并与几所大学和博物馆的伙伴关系将提供一个强大的外联到广大公众。 该项目将促进系统分类学家的教育，并为了解对人类社会具有重要实际意义的一组独特昆虫提供基本知识。

The bee family Apidae comprises nearly 6000 described species (~35% of the bees in the world), including a diverse array of social forms, including solitary and communal orchid bees (Euglossini), the primitively eusocial bumble bees (Bombini), the advanced eusocial honey bees (Apini), and the stingless bees (Meliponini). Understanding the evolutionary history of social behavior in apid bees requires a phylogeny at the tribal and generic levels. However, currently a clear understanding of the phylogeny of this group is lacking because different data sets provide highly conflicting results. Morphological data and the fossil record appear to suggest a single origin of advanced eusociality (reproductive division of labor, overlapping generations, and cooperative care of young), while multiple molecular studies have supported dual origins of advanced eusociality. This project will combine data from morphology, the fossil record, and large molecular data sets generated with novel 454 Lifesciences sequencing technology to resolve the conflicting results obtained by previous studies. The research will allow a re-assessment of the morphological data, and are-examination of apid fossils from Dominican, Baltic, and North American amber deposits. The combination of fossil data and DNA sequence data will allow application of relaxed-clock dating methods to estimate the antiquity of the apid bees and the antiquity of eusociality. The project will lead to a revised classification for the family and improved understanding of the evolutionary history of bees. Bees are vital biodiversity components of the natural world and are critically important for pollination in human agrarian systems. These social insects are at risk in the biodiversity challenges facing the world, and the project will train more of the kinds of scientists needed to understand the extent of the risks as well as potential solutions for such challenges. The project will include traditionally underrepresented groups in the research, and partnerships with several universities and museums will provide a strong outreach to the general public. The project will facilitate education of systematists and provide basic knowledge for understanding a unique group of insects that are of great practical importance to human society.