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

蚁狮是脉翅目昆虫的一大类群，在干旱地区的栖息地中扮演着重要的生态角色，是一种占主导地位的小型土壤捕食者。我们对蚁狮的多样性、进化历史和生态学的了解仍然非常不完整。世界上大约有3000个物种，其中只有一半被科学描述，这些物种之间的历史关系仍然知之甚少。该项目将涉及两个高度优先领域：第一，根据对大量选定物种的分子数据进行严格的系统发育分析，制定一个新的全球蚁类分类框架;第二，描述新物种并完成综合专著和识别检索表。为了解决最近急剧下降的全球蚁分类学家的专业知识基础，该项目将提供教育和培训机会，为多个研究生和本科生在蚁系统学和信息学领域。项目成果将包括制作新的印刷作品，探讨蚁类的识别、多样性和相互关系，并开发新的在线资源，将蚁类信息纳入生物多样性信息学的全球数字基础设施。

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.