DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of an aerial syndrome in owlflies (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae)

虽然大多数活着的昆虫都能飞行，但它们在空中的能力因种群而异。猫头鹰蝇（神经翅目：飞蝇科）是少数几种表现出高度特化的“空中综合症”的昆虫之一，其特点是在翅膀上交配、捕捉猎物和消耗猎物的能力。这种独特的行为综合症的起源和进化所涉及的因素从未被详细研究过。该项目将通过新的分类学和系统发育工作来研究这种综合征在猫头鹰中的发展及其对它们进化史的影响。这项工作将为通过高级解剖和行为适应的融合而在动物中反复出现的新生活史策略提供额外的见解——这是一个相当有概念意义的领域，因为这些新策略的发展可能是特定谱系更广泛地辐射到以前未被占领的生态位的先决条件。该奖项的支持将通过支持新的合作以及支持实地考察和研究收集访问来加强神经类动物系统学的论文研究。这项工作还将通过与基于网络的草蛉数字图书馆项目的合作，促进开发和扩展收集和传播全球神经类昆虫信息的新工具。

Although most living insects are capable of flight, their aerial abilities vary widely from group to group. Owlflies (Neuroptera: Ascalaphidae) are one of the few groups of insects that exhibit a highly specialized "aerial syndrome", characterized by the ability to mate, capture prey, and consume prey, all while on the wing. The factors involved in the origin and evolution of this distinctive behavioral syndrome have never been examined in detail. This project will investigate -- through new taxonomic and phylogenetic work -- the development of the syndrome in owlflies and its influence on their evolutionary history. This work will provide additional insights into the repeated emergence of novel life history strategies that occur in animals through the convergence of advanced anatomical and behavioral adaptations -- an area of considerable conceptual interest, as the development of these new strategies may be a prerequisite for the broader radiation of particular lineages into previously unoccupied niches. Support from this award will enhance dissertation research in neuropteran systematics by enabling new collaborations and by supporting fieldwork and research collection visits. The work will also contribute to the development and extension of new tools for aggregating and disseminating global information on neuropterid insects through its collaborations with the web-based Lacewing Digital Library project.