Dissertation Research: Systematics and diversification of the Australian cicada genus Pauropsalta

大约3000万年前南极绕极流的形成彻底改变了澳大利亚的气候，产生了地球上最大的干旱生物群落之一。研究表明，澳大利亚的干旱化导致那些适应或预先适应干旱环境的生物的多样化率增加。该项目旨在探索澳大利亚的珊瑚属植物与气候有关的多样化和珊瑚地理学，这种植物分布在澳大利亚所有的生物群落中，被认为起源于澳大利亚的主要干旱化事件。“下一代”测序技术将用于开发系统发育标记，以帮助解决Pauropsalta物种之间的进化关系。此外，生态位模型将估计，以区分主要谱系的Paulopsalta和重建其祖先的地理。生态位模型的建立将使人们更好地了解澳大利亚的干旱化如何影响澳大利亚生物群的多样性。该项目将对三名大学生进行分子技术和系统发育方法方面的培训，并对一名研究生进行进一步培训（“下一代”测序技术）。每一个被描述的物种都将在《生命百科全书》上有一个专门的页面，上面有标本照片和分布图。该项目将加强我们的国际合作。研究结果将在国际会议上发表，并提交给同行评审期刊。

The formation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current approximately 30 million years ago drastically changed the climate of Australia producing one of the largest arid biomes on earth. Studies have shown that the aridification of Australia has led to an increase in diversification rates in those organisms that adapted or were pre-adapted to the arid environment. This project aims to explore the climate-related diversification and biogeography of the Australian cicada genus Pauropsalta, which is distributed throughout all Australia's biomes and is thought to have originated during the major aridification events of Australia. 'Next generation' sequencing technology will be used to develop phylogenetic markers to aid in resolving evolutionary relationships among Pauropsalta species. In addition, ecological niche models will be estimated to distinguish the major lineages of Pauropsalta and reconstruct its ancestral biogeography. Incorporating niche models will provide a better understanding of how the aridification of Australia has affected the diversity of Australian biota.This project will result in the training of three undergraduates in molecular techniques and phylogenetic methods and the further training of one graduate student (in 'next generation' sequencing technology). Each described cicada species will have a page devoted to it on the Encyclopedia of Life with specimen photos and distribution maps. This project will strengthen our international collaboration. Results will be presented at international meetings and submitted to peer-review journals.