REVSYS - Exploiting a large existing resource for biogeographical and host-parasite data: linking immature and adult amblyommine ticks

蜱是人类和动物疾病病原体的重要媒介。为了制定有效的控制策略，准确识别这些蜱是至关重要的，包括识别三个活跃的生活史阶段-幼虫，若虫（即未成熟阶段）和成虫。目前的项目关注的是世界范围内不同种类的蜱虫。成人通常是众所周知的，但是尽管自然历史收藏品中包括大量未成熟阶段的动物，它们往往不能与那些成年动物联系起来。本项目旨在通过(1)利用遗传数据（即条形码）将幼体和成体联系起来，(2)提供幼体和成体的描述，包括开发所有阶段的在线识别密钥，以及(3)研究物种之间的进化关系来解决这一问题。利用收集到的信息，将检验关于地理分布和东道国联系的假设。该项目将为两名研究生和几名本科生提供蜱虫识别、数据库开发和管理方面的培训。生成的联机资源将使公共卫生专业人员和一般公众能够方便地获取大量信息。此外，收集到的数据将允许蜱虫作为生物地理学和宿主关联研究的模式生物。北美最大的两处馆藏的所有标本都将以数据为基础，所有信息都将在网上提供。

Ticks are very important vectors of human and animal disease agents. In order to develop effective control strategies, accurate identification of these ticks is critical, including identification of the three active life history stages - larva, nymph (i.e., immature stages) and adult. The current project focuses on a worldwide and diverse group of ticks. Adults are generally well known, but while natural-history collections include large numbers of immature stages, they often cannot be associated with those adults. This project aims to address this problem by (1) using genetic data (i.e., barcoding) to associate immatures with adults, (2) providing descriptions of the immatures and adults, including development of on-line identification keys to all stages, and (3) studying evolutionary relationships among the species. Using the information gathered, hypotheses on geographical distributions and host associations will be tested. The project will provide training in tick identification and database development and management for two graduate and several undergraduate students. The generated on-line resources will allow easy access to an enormous amount of information for public health professionals and the general public. Moreover, the assembled data will allow ticks to be used as a model organism in studies of biogeography and host associations. All specimens from the two largest collections in North America will be data-based and all information will be web accessible.