DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Revision of the New World scorpion genus Centruroides Marx, 1890: Systematics and Biogeography

论文研究：新世界蝎属 Centruroides Marx 的修订，1890：系统学和生物地理学

• 批准号: 0910147
• 负责人: Lorenzo Prendini
• 金额: $ 1.48万
• 依托单位: American Museum Natural History
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2010-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0910147&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Revision; New; World

Despite notoriety, worldwide distribution, medical, ecological and conservation importance, scorpions are poorly studied taxonomically. New species and distribution records continue to be discovered, yet scorpions are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction and harvesting for the souvenir and exotic pet trades. Scorpion research is hampered by infrequent application of modern concepts and techniques. This project will use genetic and anatomical data to revise a diverse and medically important genus of New World scorpions, the bark scorpions, Centruroides. Fieldwork will be conducted to discover new species, document distributions, and gather fresh material. The taxonomy will be revised based on objective analysis, and a monograph on the entire genus will be produced. Identifying and defining Centruroides species is problematic. The characters traditionally used often overlap between closely related species, are vaguely defined, and often vary within a population. It may be difficult even for specialists to identify species. Without a sound taxonomy, it is thus impossible to determine which species are medically important and dangerous to prepare and administer anti-venom. This project will produce revised species descriptions and interactive identification keys, illustrated with digital images and links to maps of species distributions, for all Centruroides. An expert in scorpion systematics will be trained, and results will be disseminated via the Internet for use by medical professionals and the public.

尽管蝎子臭名昭著，分布在世界各地，具有医学、生态和保护的重要性，但对蝎子的分类研究却很少。新的物种和分布记录不断被发现，但由于栖息地的破坏和纪念品和外来宠物交易的收获，蝎子的威胁越来越大。天蝎的研究被现代概念和技术的罕见应用所阻碍。该项目将使用遗传和解剖学数据来修订一个多样化和医学上重要的新世界蝎子属，树皮蝎子，Centruroides。野外工作将进行，以发现新的物种，文件分布，并收集新的材料。将在客观分析的基础上对其分类进行修订，并编写一本全属的专著。鉴定和定义棘足虫的种类是有问题的。传统上使用的性状经常在密切相关的物种之间重叠，定义模糊，并且经常在一个种群中变化。即使是专家也很难识别物种。如果没有一个健全的分类学，就不可能确定哪些物种在医学上是重要的，哪些物种对制备和施用抗蛇毒血清是危险的。该项目将为所有栉水母提供修订后的物种描述和交互式识别密钥，并配有数字图像和物种分布图链接。将培训一名蝎子分类专家，其结果将通过互联网传播，供医疗专业人员和公众使用。