DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Islands underground: species limits, phylogenetics, and conservation of Neoleptoneta spiders in Texas caves

适应洞穴的生物以其专门的生物学和有限的地理分布为特征。它们的独特性使它们成为保护的优先事项，特别是在美国西南部，那里的快速发展威胁到洞穴的栖息地。蜘蛛纲动物是洞穴中种类最多的生物之一，在德克萨斯州是一个主要的保护问题，那里有11个物种被列入濒危物种法案。不幸的是，这些种群的分类已经过时，无法准确评估保护的优先顺序。系统生物学的最新进展为分类学家提供了新的工具来帮助解决这些困难，并为洞穴生物的进化提供了洞察力。这个项目的重点是Neoleptoneta，这是一种多样化的蜘蛛，局限于北美西南部的洞穴和土壤栖息地，在那里，两个物种，Neoleptoneta microps和N.myopica，被联邦承认为濒危物种。初步数据显示，包括濒危物种近视眼在内的几个物种的分布范围比人们认为的更广泛，这表明洞穴与更大的地下网络相连。结合形态、分子和地质证据，将精炼Neoleptoneta内的物种界限，并确定洞穴之间的连通性程度。这项研究将有助于更好地了解德克萨斯州洞穴无脊椎动物的生物地理和保护，并测试关于洞穴生命进化的基本假设。除了作为这项工作的一部分而培训的研究生外，该项目还将培训两名本科生，并为加州科学院的展品做出贡献。

Cave-adapted organisms are characterized by their specialized biology and limited geographical distributions. Their uniqueness has made them conservation priorities, especially in the Southwestern United States, where rapid development threatens cave habitat. Arachnids are among the most diverse organisms in caves and are a primary conservation concern in Texas where eleven species are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, the taxonomy for these groups is outdated and prevents an accurate assessment of conservation priority. Recent advances in systematic biology provide new tools that can be used by taxonomists to help resolve these difficulties and provide insight into the evolution of cave organisms.This project is focused on Neoleptoneta, a diverse group of spiders restricted to caves and soil habitats in Southwestern North America where two species, Neoleptoneta microps and N. myopica, are federally recognized as endangered. Preliminary data show that several species, including the endangered Neoleptoneta myopica, are more broadly distributed than believed and suggest that caves are linked into larger subterranean networks. A combination of morphological, molecular, and geological evidence will be used to refine the species limits within Neoleptoneta and ascertain the degree of connectivity between caves. The study will contribute to a better understanding of the biogeography and conservation of cave invertebrates in Texas and test fundamental assumptions about the evolution of cave life. In addition to the graduate student trained as part of this work, the project will train two undergraduate students and contribute to exhibits at the California Academy of Sciences.