Collaborative Research: Phylogeny and Classification of Ranid Frogs (Anura, Natanura): Synthesis of Morphology and Molecules

占蛙类物种23%的蛙类正在全球范围内减少，它们的进化关系仍然知之甚少。本项目将通过汇编代表所有主要谱系的250个物种的11个基因和400个形态特征的DNA序列数据集，解决以往蛙类系统发育研究中的冲突。互补形态和分子数据集的系统发育分析将解决当代分析挑战（DNA序列比对、算法选择、优化标准），同时用新生成的数据重新评估遗留数据。该分析将对最近的分子假说进行严格、独立的评估，对蛙科和属进行修订分类，并检验有关蛙类的特征进化、生活史、生态学、行为和生物地理学的假说。一名博士后研究员将领导该项目，并与四个参与机构的同事合作。将辅导1名研究生、9名本科生和6名高中生。将举行一次国际讲习班。实地考察将在非洲和亚洲进行。项目网站将提供研究成果，包括参考书目、插图、照片、描述、识别密钥、地图集和术语表。数据将存档在开放的网络存储库中。这些资源将有助于未来对蛙类的研究，并帮助生物学家、外行人和自然资源保护者识别它们。

Ranid frogs, comprising 23% of frog species, are declining globally, and their evolutionary relationships remain poorly understood. This project will address conflicts in previous phylogenetic studies of ranid frogs by compiling a dataset of DNA sequences for eleven genes and 400 morphological characters, for 250 species, representing all major lineages. Phylogenetic analysis of complementary morphological and molecular datasets will address contemporary analytical challenges (DNA sequence alignment, algorithm choice, optimization criteria), while re-evaluating legacy data with newly generated data. The analysis will provide a rigorous, independent assessment of recent molecular hypotheses, produce a revised classification of ranid frog families and genera, and test hypotheses of character evolution, life history, ecology, behavior and biogeography concerning ranid frogs.A postdoctoral researcher will lead the project and collaborate with colleagues at four participating institutions. One graduate, nine undergraduate, and six high school students will be mentored. An international workshop will be held. Fieldwork will be conducted in Africa and Asia. A project website will host research products, including bibliography, illustrations, photographs, descriptions, identification keys, atlas and glossary of terminology. Data will be archived in open web repositories. These resources will facilitate future studies on ranid frogs and assist biologists, laymen and conservationists to identify them.