PEET: Antlion Systematics: building global expertise in the Myrmeleontidae (Insecta: Neuroptera)

蚁狮是一大类神经翼目昆虫，在干旱区扮演着重要的生态角色，是一种以土壤为基础的小型食肉动物。我们对蚁狮的多样性、进化史和生态学的认识仍然很不完整。世界上估计有3000个物种，其中只有一半被科学地描述过，而且这些物种之间的历史关系仍然鲜为人知。该项目将解决两个高度优先的领域：第一，基于对大量选定物种的分子数据进行严格的系统发育分析，开发一个新的全球蚁群分类框架；二是对新种的描述，完成综合性的专著和鉴定密钥。为了解决最近全球蚁群分类学家专业知识急剧下降的问题，该项目将为蚁群系统学和信息学领域的研究生和本科生提供教育和培训机会。项目成果将包括制作新的印刷作品，解决蚁群物种的识别、多样性和相互关系，以及开发新的在线资源，将蚁群信息整合到生物多样性信息学的全球数字基础设施中。

Antlions constitute a large group of neuropteran insects that play important ecological roles in arid-land habitats as a dominant class of small, soil-based predators. Our knowledge of the diversity, evolutionary history, and ecology of antlions is still very incomplete. Only half of the estimated 3000 world species have been scientifically described, and the historical relationships among these species remain poorly known. This project will address two high-priority areas: first, the development of a new global framework for antlion classification based on a rigorous phylogenetic analysis of molecular data from a large number of selected species; and second, the description of new species and completion of comprehensive monographs and identification keys. To address the recent precipitous decline in the global expertise-base of antlion taxonomists, this project will provide education and training opportunities for multiple graduate and undergraduate students in the fields of antlion systematics and informatics. Project results will include the production of new print works that address the identification, diversity and interrelationships of antlion species, and the development of new on-line resources that will integrate information on antlions into the global digital infrastructure of biodiversity informatics.