Collaborative Research: Speciation and Evolution of Fire Ants - An Integrated Population Genetic, Phylogenetic, and Ecological Approach

合作研究：火蚁的物种形成和进化——种群遗传学、系统发育和生态学的综合方法

基本信息

批准号：
1020652
负责人：
Kenneth Ross
金额：
$ 8.27万
依托单位：
University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2010
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2010-08-15 至 2014-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1020652&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Collaborative Research Speciation Evolution Fire

项目摘要

The red-imported fire ant is one of the world's worst invasive species and costs associated with control, management, and agricultural losses due to this insect exceed a billion dollars a year in the United States. Despite arriving in the southeastern United States from South America over 70 years ago, we still know very little about the what areas are vulnerable to this invader, what delineates species boundaries in the fire ant species complex, and which new species of fire ant may become invaders in the future. We will integrate molecular and ecological techniques to address these outstanding questions. This information will be of enormous scientific value, as we investigate the nature of species and the delineation of species boundaries, as well as of practical value for understanding the full invasive potential of the highly damaging fire ant pest species and for conceiving novel management strategies for these pests. A central societal issue to be addressed in the broader impacts of the proposed project is the critical shortage of well-trained science teachers in primary and secondary schools in the U.S.A. Two strategies will be employed to encourage students to consider science education/scientific research as career options, one involving students at public high schools in northern Georgia and central Illinois, and the other involving undergraduates.

红色进口的火蚂蚁是世界上最糟糕的入侵物种之一，并且与控制，管理和农业损失相关的成本在美国每年超过10亿美元。尽管70年前从南美洲到达了美国东南部，但我们仍然对哪些地区容易受到这种入侵者的影响，是什么区域描述了火蚂蚁物种中的物种边界，以及哪些新的火蚂蚁将来可能会成为侵略者。我们将整合分子和生态技术以解决这些杰出的问题。当我们研究物种的性质和物种边界的描述，以及理解高度破坏性的火蚂蚁虫害物种的全部侵入性潜力以及为这些害虫构想新颖的管理策略时，这些信息将具有巨大的科学价值。拟议项目的更广泛影响要解决的一个中央社会问题是，在美国的中小学中训练有素的科学教师的严重短缺。将采用两种策略来鼓励学生将科学教育/科学研究视为职业选择，这是一种涉及乔治亚和伊利诺伊州北部公立高中以及伊利诺伊州北部和其他涉及的学生的学生。