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

大约3000万年前南极绕极洋流的形成极大地改变了澳大利亚的气候，产生了地球上最大的干旱生物群之一。研究表明，澳大利亚的干旱化导致适应或预先适应干旱环境的生物的多样化比率增加。该项目旨在探索澳大利亚蝉属与气候有关的多样性和生物地理，这种蝉分布在澳大利亚所有的生物群中，被认为起源于澳大利亚主要的干旱事件期间。“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，将估计生态位模型，以区分Pauropsalta的主要谱系，并重建其祖先生物地理。纳入生态位模型将更好地了解澳大利亚的干旱化如何影响澳大利亚生物的多样性。该项目将导致对三名本科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(在“下一代”测序技术方面)。每一种被描述的蝉都会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。这个项目将加强我们的国际合作。结果将在国际会议上提交，并提交给同行审查期刊。

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.